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LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OP 

SAN  DIEGO 


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SECTION  II 
MIDDLE  ENGLISH   LITERATURE 


GENERAL  EDITOR 

EWALD  FLUGEL,  Ph.D. 

PROFESSOR   OF  ENGLISH   PHILOLOGY  IN  LELAND 
STANFORD  JUNIOR   UNIVERSITY 


|uap  At&Acxo  im?  htommam  ?  Butouem. 

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^b  etteftu  J>4ri<$  uekuutte-two^ 
J>  e-tc(j  ttecuuueof  ^t^tefcttje; 


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(J>  drdltv^6vfte)xir^i>vWtte-. 
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Folio  229  recto  (156  recto)  of  manuscript  Jesus  College,  Oxford,  29,  in  the 
Bodleian  Library,  including  lines  1-64  of  The  Ozul  and  the  Nightingale 


THE  OWL  AND  THE 
NIGHTINGALE 


EDITED  BY 


JOHN  EDWIN  WELLS,  A.M.,  M.L. 

PROFESSOR  OF  ENGLISH,   CONNECTICUT  COLLEGE 


BOSTON,  U.   S.   A.,  AND  LONDON 

D.   C.   HEATH  AND  CO.,  PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,    1907,    BY   D.    C.   HRATH   *  CO. 

ALL   RIGHTS   RESERVED 


2  J  O 


preface 


The  0<wl  and  the  Nightingale  has  apparently  received 
much  less  attention  than  it  merits.  Probably  this  is  due 
in  great  part  to  the  lack  of  an  accurate  and  convenient 
edition  of  the  poem.  The  editions  of  Stevenson,  Wright, 
and  Stratmann  are  incomplete,  and  none  of  the  three  has  at 
all  adequate  apparatus  (cf.  Bibliography).  Wright's  bare 
Cotton  text  may  be  had  in  the  Percy  Society  Publications 
in  larger  libraries;  but  because  only  a  few  were  printed  for 
a  limited  circulation,  copies  of  Stevenson's  and  Stratmann' s 
editions  are  rare  even  among  collections  of  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  volumes.  Accordingly  many  students  have 
been  forced  to  rely  to  a  great  extent  for  their  estimate  of 
the  poem,  on  the  selections  in  Matzner's  Altenglische 
Sprachproben  (a  work  not  generally  accessible)  and  in 
Morris  and  Skeat's  Specimens  of  Early  English,  Part  I. 

In  this  edition  for  the  first  time  the  full  readings  of  both 
MSS.  are  printed.  Great  pains  have  been  taken  in  an 
attempt  to  make  the  texts  accurate.  Explanations  of  the 
bases  and  methods  used  in  making  up  the  texts  and  the 
glossary,  will  be  found  prefaced  to  the  texts  and  the  glos- 
sary. To  save  space  and  to  satisfy  the  purpose  of  this  series, 
the  notes  have  been  confined  to  explanation  of  the  texts, 
illustrative  parallels  being  omitted.  The  use  of  diacritical 
marks  in  the  glossary  and  not  in  the  texts;  and  the  limiting 
of  citations  from  the  text  and  the  omission  of  etymological 
matter,  in  the  glossary ;  are  by  direction  of  the  general 
editor.  The  more  or  less  "impressionistic"  character  of 
the  remarks  in  parts  of  the  section  on  the  author,  may  be 
somewhat  justified  (if  need  be)  by  a  hope  to  arouse   pos- 


vi  preface 

sibly  closer  study  of  a  work  that  seems  as  yet  to  have 
been  really  but  hastily  judged. 

I  wish  to  thank  Mr.  J.  P.  Gilson  and  Mrs.  A.  F. 
Parker  New  for  my  obligations  to  them  indicated  at  the 
head  of  the  texts.  I  am  very  grateful  for  the  kindness  of 
Professor  Frederick  M.  Padelford  of  the  University  of 
Washington,  who  collated  my  final  "copy"  for  the  Cot- 
ton text  with  the  Cotton  MS. 

To  Professor  O.  F.  Emerson  of  Western  Reserve  Uni- 
versity and  to  Professor  Richard  Jones  of  Vanderbilt 
University,  I  owe  especial  thanks  for  their  kind  concern 
toward  the  publication  of  this  edition.  To  the  general 
editor  of  the  series,  Professor  Ewald  Flugel,  I  am  most 
deeply  obliged  for  the  admission  of  the  poem  into  the 
series,  for  his  careful  reading  of  my  MS.,  and  for  his  very 
helpful  suggestions.  I  would  thank  him,  too,  for  making 
for  me  at  the  Bodleian  and  at  the  British  Museum  a 
number  of  notes  concerning  the  MSS. 

Finally,  I  would  indicate  my  appreciation  of  the  cour- 
tesies extended  to  me  by  Mr.  E.  W.  B.  Nicholson, 
Librarian  of  the  Bodleian,  and  by  the  authorities  of  the 
Department  of  MSS.  of  the  British  Museum,  and  by 
those  of  the  libraries  of  Columbia,  Harvard,  and  Western 
Reserve  Universities,  and  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

It  is  with  pride  and  sorrow  that  I  venture  to  associate 
with  this  volume  the  name  of  the  teacher  who  suggested 
the  undertaking  of  it,  the  late  Professor  Thomas  Randolph 
Price  of  Columbia  University. 

John  Edwin  Wells. 

Hiram,  Ohio,  June,  1906. 


ginttoDuction 


I.    The  Manuscripts. 

Two  Middle  English  MSS.  preserve  The  Owl  and 
the  Nightingale.  The  earlier  of  these  (in  this  edition 
referred  to  as  C)  is  contained  in  MS.  Cotton  Caligula 
A  IX.  in  the  British  Museum.  The  character  of  the 
handwriting  and  the  peculiarities  of  the  MS.  at  large, 
have  led  to  a  general  agreement  that  the  part  of  the 
MS.  in  which  The  Owl  is  found  is  of  the  earlier  half 
of  the  thirteenth  century.1 

The  older  version  of  Lajamon's  Brut  (originally  sep- 
arate from  this  volume)  occupies  now  fF.  3-194  of  the 
MS.  Then  follow,  f.  195  La  Vie  de  St.  Josaphaz,  in 
French  verse,  by  Chardry;  f.  216  v  La  Vie  des  set 
DormanZy  also  in  French  verse,  by  Chardry;  f.  229  V 
a  chronicle  in  French  prose,  extending  from  the  Saxon 
Conquest  to  Henry  III.,  ending,  «<  Apres  la  mort  cestu 
rei  Johan,  si  regna  sun  fiz  Henri. ' '  The  Owl  and  the 
"Nightingale  extends  in  double  columns  (each  usually 
of  34  lines),  without  title  or  colophon,  from  f.  233  r  to 
f.  246  r.  There  succeed,  ff.  2 46-49, seven  short  poems 2 

1  Stratmann,  Preface  to  <rdit.  of  1868  ;  Morris,  Old  English  Miscellany, 
p.  x. ;  et  al.  —  Madden,  Preface  to  La^amon,  p.  xxxv.,  expressed  the  opin- 
ion that  the  MS.  was  written  M  probably  at  the  close  of  Henry  the  Third's 
reign."  He  seems  not  to  be  supported  by  the  other  experts  who  have 
studied  the  MS.  itself. 

a  Long  Life  f.  246;  Orisun  of  Ure  Lady  f.  246V  ;  Will  and  IVit  f.  246*; 
Doomsday  f.  246  v  ;  Death  f.  247  ;  Ten  Abuses  f.  248  v  ;  A  Lutel  Soth  Sermun 
f.  248  v. 


viii  31ntroDuction 

in  English,  printed  by  Morris  in  his  Old  English  Mis- 
cellany ;  and  the  MS.  closes,  n\  249-61,  with  an  estrif 
or  debaty  Le  Petit  Plet,  in  French  verse,  by  Chardry.1 
Folios  233  r-249  end  of  col.  1,  are  in  one  handwriting, 
which  apparently  does  not  occur  elsewhere  in  the  MS. 
There  is  invariably  a  point  at  the  end  of  the  line.  The 
initial  of  each  paragraph  is  in  red  ink. 

If  other  evidence  were  lacking,  the  number  and  the 
character  of  the  corrections  (as  a  rule  not  in  the  original 
hand)  necessitated  in  the  MS.  (cf.  MS.  Var.  at  foot 
of  text),  would  indicate  that  this  MS.  of  The  Owl  is 
not  the  original.  Proof  of  this  is  found  in  the  omission 
of  11.  86,  770,  771;  in  the  lacunae  in  1225,  1254;  in 
the  scribe's  mistake  of  An  0  for  To  in  1476,  1489,  and 
of  &  honge  for  an  honge  in  1 1 95 ;  in  the  insertion  of 
segge  in  1024;  in  the  miscopying  of  wiste  in  115  for 
another  word,  of  yf  for  wif  in  1469,  and  of  sortes  for 
sottes  in  1471;  etc. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  first  occurs  at  1.  902  the 
diphthong  eo ;  in  the  same  line,  the  contraction  for  fiat, 
/>er ;  in  907,  ea  ;  in  91 1,  3"  (cf.  Note  91 1)  ;  in  932, 
hw  for  the  usual  w  ;  in  910,  919,  ay  for  an  or  and 
(only  cases  in  Owl);  in  904  (except  in  a  few  scattered 
cases),  h  for  ^.  Most  of  these,  except  hw  for  w>  occur 
with  very  slight  lapses  up  to  962.  Thence  for  some 
220  lines  the  earlier  forms  occur  regularly.  At  1182, 
h  for  ^  first  appears  again  ;  at  1 184,  d  and  abbrevia- 
tion for  pat  re-appear;  at  1 195,  is  found  hw  ;  at  1 194, 
eo;  at  1 2 1 6,  ea;  —  to  continue  throughout  the  rest  of 
the  poem,  (except  ea)  often  much  predominating  over 

1  Ed.  John  Koch,  Chardr/s  Josafhax,  etc.    Hcilbronn,  1879. 


introduction  « 

the  forms  that  occur  in  11.  1-902  and  11.  962-1 181. 
—  From  this  one  would  at  first  conclude  that  the  MS. 
had  two  copyists.  But  one  handwriting  seems  to  con- 
tinue throughout  the  poem.  There  is  left,  then,  the 
conjecture  that  this  MS.  was  copied  from  one  in  which 
two  hands  occurred.  It  is  unlikely  that  the  author  would 
use  the  two  spellings.  It  is,  therefore,  very  improbable 
that  the  MS.  from  which  the  Cotton  MS.  was  copied 
was  the  author's  MS.;  and  it  would  seem  that  the  Cot- 
ton MS.  is  a  copy  of  a  copy,  —  a  fact  of  much  impor- 
tance if  one  endeavor  to  assign  a  definite  date  to  the 
composition  of  the  poem.1  One  may  suggest  that  the 
second  hypothetical  MS.  back  of  MS.  Cotton,  is  not 
necessarily  the  author's  MS.,  and  may  be  a  copy. 

Some  of  the  characters  in  C  are  often  to  be  made 
out  only  with  difficulty.  The  division  of  words  in  this 
MS.  is  often  doubtful.  We?i  is  frequently  not  dotted 
(cf.  Note  48),  and  so  is  not  to  be  distinguished  (as 
far  as  form  goes)  from  thorn.  Wen  usually  occurs 
for  w.  Wen  dotted  is  very  like  v  (cf.  Note  57). 
Thorn  is  sometimes  dotted  (cf.  Note  2),  and  so  is  like 
wen.  Thorn  is  sometimes  like  p  (cf.  Note  57).  ft  is 
identical  in  form  with  the  contraction  for  der.  The  con- 
tractions for  pat  and  per  are  alike. 

The  later  copy  of  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale  (in 
this  edition  referred  to  as  J)  is  preserved  in  MS.  Jesus 

1  Cp.  the  similarity  of  occurrences  of  the  contraction  for  pat  and  per  in 
MS.  Jes.  Coll.  to  those  in  MS.  Cott.  See  page  xvi.  —  The  notion  that 
MS.  Cott.  is  a  copy  of  a  copy  is  borne  out  by  all  citations  made  later  to 
show  that  MSS.  Cott.  and  Jes.  Coll.  are  copied  from  the  same  original  :  cf. 
especially  Notes  i  388,  171 1,  with  references.  See  also  discussion  of  Date, 
page  xix  ;  and  page  xv,  (4). 


x  introduction 

College  29,  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  Oxford.  The 
parts  of  the  MS.  with  which  the  student  of  The  Owl 
is  concerned,  are  regarded  as  dating  from  the  latter  half 
of  the  thirteenth  century.1  From  f.  217  r  to  the  end 
of  the  MS.  there  seems  to  be  but  one  handwriting,  with 
only  such  variations  as  change  of  ink  or  pen  or  difference 
in  day  or  hour  of  writing  might  cause.  Ff.  2 1  7  r  top- 
228  r  top  contain  a  poem  known  as  The  Passion  of  Our 
Lord.2  The  rest  off.  228  r  and  all  off.  228  v  are  blank 
except  for  later  scribblings.  The  Owl  and  the  Nightin- 
gale begins  f.  229  r  top,  Incipit  alter  cacio  inter  filomenam 
cif  Bubonem  (in  red),  and  extends  in  double  columns 
(  of  from  32  to  36,  usually  3  4,  lines  each  ) ,  with  red  and 
blue  paragraph  initials,  and  a  dot  at  the  end  of  each  line, 
to  the  second  quarter  of  the  second  column  f.  241  v,  Ex- 
plicit* Thereafter  follow  the  poems  printed  by  Morris 
in  his  Old  English  Miscellany,  pp.  58  etc.  The  Roman 
numbers  in  the  following  statement  of  contents  refer  to 
Morris's  arrangement  in  his  volume,  where  the  poems 
may  be  had  :  II.  ff.  242  r-247  v;  III.  ff.  248  r  top- 
251  v  top;  IV.  ff.  251  v  near  top-252  v  middle  ;  V. 
f.  252  v  middle;  XX.  ff.  252  v  bottom-253  v  near 
top;  first  31  11.,  a  fragment,  of  XXI.,  f.  253  v  to 
bottom;  last  7  11.  of  XI.,  f.  254  r  top;  VI.  f.  254  r- 

1  Stratmann,  Preface  to  edit,  of  1868  ;  Morris,  0.  E.  Misc.,  p.  x.  ;  note 
in  Bodleian  copy  of  Coxe's  Catalogue  of  1852  against  description  of  MS. ; 
statement  of  opinion  of  Bodley's  Librarian,  Mr.  E.  W.  B.  Nicholson,  to 
the  editor;   tt  al. 

*  Morris,  0.  E.  Misc.,  pp.  37-57.  ~«» 

5  The  leaves  have  two  numberings,  one  in  ink,  and  one  in  pencil. 
Coxe's  Cat.  of  1852  gives  the  leaf  on  which  the  poem  begins  as  156.  The 
poem  really  begins  on  f.  156.  The  leaf  is  numbered  229  also.  The  num- 
bering of  Stratmann's  edition,  and  that  of  Morris's  text  of  the  shorter  poems 
of  the  MS.,  have  led  to  the  adoption  of  the  numbering  in  this  edition.  Thus 
confusion  may  be  avoided. 


^Introduction  xi 

254  v  top;  VII.  ff.  254  v  near  top-255  rtop;  XXII. 
f.  255  r  near  top-255  v  middle;  XXIII.  ff.  255  v-257 
v  near  bottom;  XXIV.  f.  257  v  to  bottom;  XXV.  f. 
258  r  top-258  v  middle;  VIII.  f.  258  v  at  middle; 
IX.  ff.  258  v  bottom-260  r  above  middle;  X.  ff.  260  r- 
261  v  near  bottom;  first  1 1  11.  of  XL,  f.  261  v  to  bot- 
tom; XII.  fragment,  last  2  11.  of  a  stanza,  and  a  whole 
final  stanza  with  'Amen,'  f.  262  r  top;  XIII.  f.  262  r 
below  top;  XIV.  f.  262  r  to  about  middle;  XV.  ff.  262  r 
middle-265  r  top;  XVI.  ff.  265r-266r  top;  XVII. 
ff.  266  r  near  top-267  r  top;  XVIII.  ff.  267  r  near 
top-268  r  top;  short  [piece  not  in  O.  E.  Misc.y  f.  268  r 
middle;  rest  of  f.  268  r  blank;  ff.  268  v  top-271  r 
col.  2,  Ici  comence  de  Tobye  (ed.  Fr.  Michel,  Libri 
Psalmorum,  pp.  364  et  seq.)-,  XIX  ff.  271  r  col.  2- 
273  v  col.  1  near  bottom.  Next  follow  four  French 
pieces  :  ff.  274  r  top-280  r  bottom,  Ici  commence  le 
Doctrinal^  ff.  280  v  top  col.  1-295  v  col.  1  near  bot- 
tom, Ici  comence  la  vie  de  Set  Dormanz;  ff.  296  r  top 
col.  1-3 17  r  bottom  col.  1,  Ici  comence  la  vie  Seynt 
Josaphaz  ;  ff.  317  v  top  col.  1-330  v  middle  col.  2, 
Ici  cumence  le petyt  pie.  It  is  to  be  noticed  that  among 
these  compositions  are  later  versions  of  six  of  the  seven 
short  English  poems  that  follow  The  Owl  in  C  (  O.  E. 
Misc.  XXVI.  is  not  in  J).  There  are  also  in  J  the 
three  poems  of  Chardry  found  in  C. 

It  is  of  importance  to  observe  that  f.  253  v  contains 
a  fragment  (  O.  E.  Misc.  XXI.  )  which  ends  abruptly  at 
the  bottom  of  the  page.  The  next  page  (f.  254  r)  be- 
gins with  the  last  7  11.  o^  a  poem  (  O.  E.  Misc.  XI.  ) 
whose  first  1 1  11.  extend  from  below  the  middle  to  the 


xii  3IntroDuctton 

bottom  of  f.  261  v.  Between  f.  254  r  and  f.  257  V 
the  poems  overlap  from  page  to  page,  so  that  no  trans- 
position of  leaves  can  have  occurred  here.  But  O.  E. 
Misc.  XXIV.  ends  at  the  bottom  of  f.  257  v.  At  f. 
258  r  top  a  poem  begins,  and  thence  to  f.  261  v  poems 
overlap  from  page  to  page.  Hence  it  may  be  that  a 
mistake  was  made  in  binding  up  the  sheets,  and  that  ff. 
254  r-257  v  and  if.  258  r-261  v  should  be  transposed. 
Then  one  would  have  the  defective  fragment  (  O.  E. 
Misc.  XXI.)  ending  abruptly  at  the  bottom  of  f.  253  v; 
then  ff.  258  r-261  v,  ff.  254  r-257  v,  making  an  un- 
broken progression  of  poems  for  eight  leaves, overlapping 
from  page  to  page,  but  with  a  gap  in  XI.  between  the 
beginning  on  f.  261  v  and  the  end  on  f.  254 r;  then, 
after  ff.  254  r—  257  v,  would  follow  ff.  262  r  et  seq.>  at 
the  top  of  f.  262  r  the  fragment  of  the  end  of  a  poem; 
then  a  series  of  poems  overlapping  from  page  to  page  up 
to  f.  268  r.  From  this  it  would  seem  that  there  must  be 
lost  from  J  or  its  original  a  leaf  or  some  leaves  immedi- 
ately after  f.  253  v,  and  f.  261  v,  and  immediately  before 
f.  262  r.  Koch  has  noted  in  his  edition  of  Chardry's 
poems l  three  gaps  in  the  J  versions  of  Josaphaz  and 
Le  Petit  P/et  due  to  loss  of  leaves.  This  loss  in  the 
French  parts  of  the  MS.  supports  the  idea  of  losses  at 
the  places  noted  above.  A  former  owner  of  the  MS. 
(see  page  xxvii)  found  an  interesting  conclusion  of  a 
poem  on  a  "  broaken  leafe  "  now  lost.    Can  one  of  the 

1  p.  vii.  :  Heilbronn,  1879.  Inside  the  cover  of  the  MS.  is  written  : 
"  Comparing  the  three  last  pieces  of  this  MS.  with  a  copy  of  the  MS.  Ca- 
ligula A  ix.  Brit.  Mus.,  I  found  that  between  fol.  228  and  229,  232  and 
2}},  247  and  24S,  every  time  one  leaf  must  be  wanting.  November,  1876. 
John  Koch,  Ph.  D.  of  Konigsberg." 


31ntroUuction  xiii 

leaves  at  the  three  gaps  in  the  English  poems  be  this 
"broaken  leafe  "  ?  Nowhere  in  the  MS.  does  there 
seem  to  be  any  sign  of  a  leaf  cut  or  torn  out.  The  con- 
clusion on  the  "  broaken  leafe"  seems  such  as  would 
follow  a  somewhat  pretentious  poem. 

The  commonly  accepted  date  of  J  would  indicate  that 
J  is  not  the  original  draft  of  the  poem.  The  omission 
of  11.  734,  1308,  and  the  various  misreadings  and 
omissions  of  single  words  (cf.  MS.  Var.  at  foot  of  text, 
and  Note  209)  in  the  MS.,  afford  proof  of  the  fact. 
That  the  MS.  was  not  copied  from  C,  seems  clear:  for 
it  contains  11.  86,  770,  771;  has  the  correct  reading 
pat,  1.  772;  has  no  lacunae  in  11.  1225,  1254;  has 
the  correct  To  in  11.  1476,  1489,  and  an  honge  in 
1.  1 1 95 ;  etc.  Examination  of  the  readings  of  J  through- 
out the  poem  will  show  that  the  scribe,  while  a  clear 
writer,  was  careless  in  copying,  and  was  not  able  of 
himself  to  fill  up  lacunae  or  to  make  corrections  suc- 
cessfully (e.  g.  cf.  the  misreadings  cited  below). 

There  are  a  number  of  facts  that  may  seem  to  indi- 
cate that  J  was  copied  from  the  original  of  C. 

(i)  Often,  as  in  other  MSS.,  r  and  /  were  much 
alike  in  the  originals:  cf.  Note  1 106.  — Evidently  an 
was  used  for  and  sometimes  in  orig.  of  J  as  in  that  of 
C  (an  being  very  general  in  C):  cf.  Notes  239,  1  195, 
1  3  7  1 ,  1  7 1 8.  —  Evidently  there  was  a  likeness  in  form 
in  the  original  of  J  (as  in  that  of  C;  cf.  p.  ix)  between 
wen,  thorn,  3,  y,  and  p,  or  confusion  in  the  mind  of 
the  scribe  or  scribes  of  the  originals  of  C  and  J,  or 
of  C  and  J  themselves,  as  to  the  form  and  use  of  the 
five  characteis  :  cf.  Notes  and  MSS.  Var.  57,  215, 


xiv  introduction 

272,  309,  439,  296,  670,  689,  785,  981,  1091, 

1055,  1 125,  1256,  1447,  1566,  1638. — Though 
the  evidence  afforded  by  the  foregoing  is  helpful  in 
connection  with  what  follows,  in  itself  it  is  not  of  great 
force. 

(  2  )  At  most  of  the  places  where  there  were  diffi- 
culties for  the  scribe  of  C,  or  where  there  are  such  for 
the  reader  of  C,  there  seem  to  have  been  the  same  for 
the  scribe  of  J  x :  e.  g.  242  J  bouh  of  lynd>  clear  substi- 
tution, C  bos  ne  strind  corrected  to  bov  ne  rind ;  248  J 
a  prenche  as  if  not  understood,  C  at  prenche  ;  814  at 
prenche  ;  ?  325  J  a  middel,  C  ad  middel\  ?  384  J  sitte  a 
dare,  C  sitte  an  dare  ;  5  4 1  C  inune  later  corrected  to 
inume,  J  word  omitted  and  inome  added  later;  764  C 
scholde  miste,  J  solde  myste  ;  748  C  ihere  .  .  .  wes,  J 
a  byde  .  .  .  b/es,  not  understanding  zues  or  orig.  J  scribe 
wrote  a  byde  and  left  space  which  later  hand  filled  with 
b/es,  as  forced  a  rhyme  as  zees  —  or  neither  scribe  un- 
derstood the  orig.,  and  C  scribe  changed  the  verb  to  fit* 
zees,  a  poor  choice  for  rhyme  ;  1001  J  houenetinge,  C 
houen  tinge  ;  1 1  3  5  C  fueyl  first  e  deleted,  second  e  on 
an  /,  J  fuoel ;  1260  C  harem,  J  a  tern,  a  common  orig. 
arem  or  harem  with  r  much  like  /  (cf.  (1)  above); 
1  3  15  C  chil  (also  1440),  J  chid ;  1353  C  mistempe 
or  rempe  (orig.  r  and  /  perhaps  very  like),  p  like 
/>,  syllable  deleted,  J  has  a  different  word  mis  nyme, 
as  often  in  such  cases;  1403  C  zeonefi,  J  wunnef>  ; 
1405  C  fiurfi,  J  pur  ;  1449  ^  reache  preceded  by 
deleted  d  or  part  of  d  on  /,  J  theche  ;    1586   C  houd 

1  Here  and  elsewhere  in  the  Introduction  and  Notes, the  MSS.  Var.  at 
foot  of  Text,  and  the  Notes  and  references,  should  be  consulted  in  connec 
tion  with  each  citation. 


3|ntroDuctton  xv 

sipe,  J  houp  sype  for  utsipe;  1751  C  nujte  y,  J 
Mihte  /yet;  1371  C  riht  &  fale  londe,]  of  a  lie  londe; 
963  poor  metre  and  sense  in  both  MSS.;  1400  C 
wrone-,  wronc-hede,  J  wlonkhede ;  3  2 1  J  defective,  C 
poor  metre;  1256  C  al  hit  it  id  purp,  J  a  I  i  wurp; 
et  al. 

(  3  )  Again,  at  a  number  of  places  the  MSS.  agree 
in  incorrect  or  unusual  readings:  e.  g.,  167  swikedom; 
very  notable  is  364  C  an  for  am,  later  corrected  to 
am,  J  an;  515  is  tunge;  614  wnienge,  wunying;  660 
iworpe  for  iworde;  120  A/,  ^,  for  /£//,  orig.  dropped 
/  ?;  679  C  smudges,  J  defective;  745  J  pu,  C  we  or 
pe,  perhaps  wen  undotted  in  orig. ,  so  J  scribe  corrected 
pe  to  pu;  759  mani  eine,  mony  eine  ;  notable  are  805  pe 
for  pu,  and  812  for  for  fox,  in  both  MSS.;  813  pe, 
pey  ;  941  pe  wrappe  ;  1099  wrp  sipe  ;  1 307  C  sette, 
J  yette  ;  1  3  22  bihaitest ;  1  358  ne  ne  ;  1388  lustes,  cf . 
Note;  1527  attorn,  atom;  1550  heare;  1594  ^^ 
/«/*,  wjy^  /•#/<?,  /«//;  1602  hoyp,  howep  (J  scribe 
found  the  words  together,  and  displaced  1  by  w  as 
often);  1624  pe  yt,  pe  yet ;  16S1  60  pe  (for  tope), 
beo  py ;   173  1  kinge  omitted  (?);  1733  hunke. 

(4)  In  1.  41 1  both  rubricators  wrote  p  for  H,  and 
this  was  done  in  C  in  face  of  a  direction  h.  In  1.  707 
are  C  Nule,  J  [  ]le  capital  omitted  :  either  the  rubri- 
cators were  careless,  or  the  fault  lies  with  carelessness 
or  omission  in  the  original.  In  C  25,  29  the  capital 
is  omitted,  though  the  directing  letters  remain  :  in  J 
309  the  rubricator  wrote  p  for  orig.  ?J.  At  171 1 
there  is  a  paragraph  division  in  both  MSS.  contrary  to 
the  sense,  an  indication  of  error  in  the  common  original, 


xvi  3Introtiuctton 

which  must  have  been  a  copy  (cf.  page  ix).  This  all 
together  would  indicate  that  at  least  some  irregulari- 
ties at  beginnings  of  paragraphs  arose  from  a  defective 
common  original. 

(  5  )  Attention  has  been  called  to  the  fact  that  in  C 
the  abbreviation  for  pat  ox  per  begins  at  1.  902,  and 
is  used  quite  regularly  thence  to  1.  948,  when  it  is  dis- 
continued until  1.  1  1 84,  after  which  it  appears  fairly 
regularly  to  the  end  of  the  poem.  Evidence  of  the 
identity  of  the  originals  of  C  and  J  may  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  in  J  this  abbreviation  first  occurs  at  1.  902,  and 
continues  with  much  regularity  up  to  1.  950,  when  it 
is  dropped  entirely  (exc.  par  1042),  to  be  taken  up 
again  (as  in  C)  at  1.  1 184,  and  used  very  frequently 
to  the  end  of  the  poem. 

( 6 )  There  are  found  in  both  C  and  J  six  of  the 
seven  short  English  poems  printed  by  Morris,  and  all  of 
the  three  French  poems  by  Chardry  (cf.  pages  vii,  xi). 

As  far  as  can  be  observed,  no  interpolations  into  the 
matter  of  the  original  were  made  by  the  scribes  of  the 
MSS.  The  variations  between  the  MSS.  are  due  for 
the  most  part  to  the  scribes'  individual  peculiarities  of 
spelling.  Carelessness  in  transcription  caused  the  omis- 
sion of  11.  86,  770,  771  in  C,  and  of  11.  734,  1308 
in  J.  In  many  verses  single  words  or  letters  were 
omitted  or  interpolated  to  the  detriment  of  the  metre 
and,  sometimes,  of  the  sense.  At  several  places  slight 
differences  in  readings  arose  from  failure  of  one  or  both 
of  the  scribes  to  understand  or  to  hold  quite  closely  to 
the  original. 


iflmrotmctton  xvii 

Although  in  J  the  characters  are  rarely  ambiguous, 
and  the  handwriting  is  much  more  legible  than  that  in 
C,  when  the  MSS.  are  compared  carefully  from  begin- 
ning to  end,  line  for  line,  it  is  found  that  in  more  than 
two-thirds  of  the  verses  where  variations  occur,  C  pre- 
serves the  older  inflection,  exhibits  greater  accuracy  in 
inflection,  gives  the  better  metre,  or  presents  the  more 
complete  or  the  better  sense. 

II.    The  Date. 

The  conclusions  of  the  scholars  who  have  sought  to 
assign  a  definite  date  to  the  composition  of  The  Owl 
and  the  Nighthiga/e,  range  over  a  period  of  a  hundred 
years.1  The  following  points  should  be  regarded  in 
attempting  to  decide  on  the  date  : 

(  i  )  MS.  Cott.  is  accepted  as  of  the  first  half  of  the 
I  3th  century  (cf.  page  vii).  MS.  Jes.  Coll.  is  accepted 
as  of  the  second  half  of  the  13  th  century,  and  it  seems 
to  be  a  copy  of  the  original  of  MS.  Cott.  (cf.  pages  x, 
xiii). 

1  Stevenson,  edit.  1838:  reign  of  Rich.  I. —  Warton,  Hist,  of  Eng. 
Poetry,  edit.  1840,  i.  25:  "not  later  than  Richard  I."  —  Wright,  edit. 
1843,  and  Biog.  Brit.  Lit.,  Anglo-Norm.  Per.,  p.  439  :  reign  of  John  ; 
author  lived  at  end  of  twelfth  and  beginning  of  thirteenth  century.  — 
Matzner,  Altengl.  Sprachproben,  i.  40  :  reign  of  John.  —  Wiilcker,  Paul  and 
Braune's  Beitrdge,  i.  68-70  :  reign  of  John. —  Koch,  Chardr/s  Josaphax,, 
pp.  xlvi.-xlvii.  :  reign  of  John.  —  Ten  Brink,  Ear.  Eng.  Lit.',  Bohn,  p.  218: 
reign  of  Henry  III.  Berlin  edit.  1877,  p.  277  :  "  die  erste  Halfte  der  Regie- 
rungszeit  Heinrichs  III."  — Borsch,  Ueber  Met.  u.  Poet,  der  Altengl.  Dich- 
tung  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale  :  between  1218  (1220)  and  1225.  —  Brandl, 
in  Paul's  Grundriss, ii.  622:  about  1220.  —  Morsbach,  Mittelengl.  Gram., 
p.  10  :  about  1220.  —  Skeat,  Spec,  of  Ear.  Eng.,  pt.  i.,  p.  171  :  retains  Mor- 
ris's "A.  D.  1246-1250,"  and  adds  "  certainly  not  later  than  the  time  of 
Henry  III."  Note  Clar.  Press  edit,  of  Havelok,  p.  xxvi.  "  perhaps  as  early 
as  1250."  —  Morris,  0.  E.  Misc.,  p.  xi.  :  1244-1250.  —  Madden,  edit.  1840 
of  Warton,  Hist,  of  Eng.  Poetry,  i.  26  :  "  beginning  of  reign  of  Edw.  I." — 
Hazlitt's  edit.  1871  of  Warton,  p.  39  :  "  not  later  than  Edw.  I." 


xviii  introduction 

(2)  MS.  Cott.  seems  to  be  a  copy  of  a  copy  (cf. 
page  ix).  In  view  of  (  1  )  this  would  seem  to  point  to 
not  later  than  1 220-1 230  for  the  author's  MS.  As 
has  been  suggested  (cf.  page  ix)  the  second  MS.  back 
of  C  may  have  been  a  copy  and  not  the  author's  MS. 

( 3 )  The  French  chronicle  in  C  ends  with  the 
death  of  John.  It  mentions  the  accession  of  Henry  III. 
(cf.  page  vii).  The  rest  of  the  page  is  left  blank,  as  if 
to  give  space  for  a  later  continuation.1  Blank  spaces 
are  not  left  elsewhere  in  this  MS.  by  the  French  scribe 
(cf.  at  page  vii  list  of  contents  of  MS.,  ff.  216  v,  229  V, 
249)  or  by  the  English  scribe  (cf.  list,  ff.  246  r,  246  v, 
248  v).  If  the  blank  space  on  f.  232  V  be  supposed  to 
have  been  left  open  contrary  to  the  scribe's  practice  in 
order  to  give  space  for  a  continuation  chronicling  the 
reign  of  Henry  III.,  it  may  be  taken  as  evidence  that 
the  chronicle  was  written  in  C  at  about,  or  a  little 
after,  Henry's  accession  (1216).  The  fact  that  the 
French  pieces  fill  ff.  195-232  v,  and  then  (in  the  same 
hand2)  comes  a  third  poem  of  Chardry  on  the  portion 
off.  249  r  left  open  by  the  scribe  of  the  English  poems 
which  were  now  finished,  leads  to  a  conjecture  that  the 
French  and  the  English  parts  of  the  MS.  were  written 
at  the  same  time.  —  If  this  be  accepted,  it  must  be  that 
The  Owl  (in  the  same  hand  as  ff.  246-249,  cf.  page 

1  This  fact    was  pointed  out   by   Koch  in  his  Chardr/s   Jasaphax^  p. 
xlvi. 

s  It  is  fitting  to  note  that,  after  a  somewhat  hasty  examination  of  the 
MS.,  Professor  Flueel  has  suggested  that  perhaps  ff.  195-232 v  and  ff.  249  r 
col.  2-261  are  by  different  hands,  since  the  &"s  are  different.  Madden, 
Landman,  p.  xxxv.,  states  that  ff.  195  to  end  are  M  by  two  different  hands 
—  evidently  (1)  ff.  195-232  v,  ff.  249  r  col.  2-261 ;  (2)  ff.  233  r-249  r  col.  1. 
Koch  (cf.  page  xii,  note),  who  edited  the  French  poems,  states  (of.  c/t., 
p.  vi.)  that  "  the  old  French  pieces  are  all  written  by  the  same  hand." 


3IntroDuction  xix 

viii;  and  the  last  off.  249  filled  by  a  third  poem  of 
Chardry  in  the  hand  of  ff.  195—232  v)  in  C  must  have 
been  copied  from  the  copy  of  the  ?  original  MS.  at 
the  same  time  as  the  chronicle.  It  is  evident  at  least 
that  The  Owl  in  C  was  copied  after  1216.  We  may 
suppose  that  the  author  of  the  chronicle  or  those  who 
might  have  extended  it,  would  perhaps  find  many  rea- 
sons for  being  unwilling  to  write  about  a  reigning  mon- 
arch: hence  the  chronicle  may  have  been  copied  and 
still  left  open  much  later  than  the  date  of  the  accession 
of  Henry. —  Here  it  is  to  be  observed  that  Koch  as- 
signs *  the  poems  of  Chardry  to  the  beginning  of  the 
13  th  century.  These  poems  in  C  he  shows  to  be  a 
copy  of  a  copy.  It  has  just  been  shown  that  they 
seem  to  have  been  copied  at  the  same  time  as  The  Owl 
in  C,  and  that  The  Owl'm  C  is  a  copy  of  a  copy  (cf. 
page  ix). 

(4)  The  fact  that  C  contains  the  earlier  MS.  of 
La^amon  is  little  to  be  considered,  since  the  La^amon 
MS.  was  originally  not  a  part  of  C  (cf.  page  vii). 

(  5  )  In  his  Old  English  Miscellany,  Morris  claimed 
(p.  xi. )  that  "  the  poems  in  the  Cotton  and  the  Jesus 
MSS.  were  composed  before  1250,  and  probably  soon 
after  the  year  1 244. "  This  conclusion  he  derived  from 
the  facts  (  1  )  that  in  the  poem  When  Holy  Church  Is 
Under  Foot  *'  Papal  exactions  are  spoken  of  as  a  pre- 
sent grievance  ";  (2)  that  in  the  poem  A  Luue  Ron  a 
King  Henry  is  twice  referred  to;  and  (3  )  that  in  1244 
King  Henry  was  "obliged  to  remonstrate  with  the 
Pope  on  the  exactions  of  his  agents,"  and  "a  formal 

1  Koch,  op.  cit.yf.  xlvi. 


xx  introduction 

complaint  was  made  to  the  council  at  Lyons,"  and 
that  in  "  1246,  1247,  Parliament  complained  to,  and 
remonstrated  with,  the  Pope  on  his  exactions." — A 
glance  at  Green's  Short  History,  ch.  iii.,  sect,  v.,  will 
show  that  as  early  as  1231  it  was  generally  recognized 
that  Holy  Church  was  under  foot.  In  1  2  3  1  the  popu- 
lace, the  soldiery,  the  civil  and  the  political  authorities, 
perhaps  even  the  King,  were  participants  in  a  general 
conspiracy  to  resist  the  exactions  of  Rome  at  that  time. 
But  the  conditions  in  all  the  earlier  part  of  the  reign 
of  Henry  III.  would  justify  assignment  of  the  poems 
to  an  even  earlier  date  on  these  arguments.  It  would 
seem  that  we  need  not  feel  forced  by  Morris's  con- 
clusion to  date  the  MSS.,  or  either  of  them,  as  late  as 
1244. 

•  Even  though  it  be  accepted  that  A  Luue  Ron  and 
When  Holy  Church  were  written  between  1244  and 
1250,  Morris's  generalization  that  "the  poems  in  the 
Cotton  and  Jesus  MSS.  were  composed"  within  this 
period,  does  not  follow  necessarily.  Neither  A  Luue 
Ron  nor  When  Holy  Church  is  in  C.  The  only  reason 
for  supposing  that  they  were  in  the  common  original 
of  C  and  J,  is  that  six  of  the  short  poems  in  J  are  found 
in  C.  If  the  short  poems  O.  E.  Misc.  XX. -XXV.  in 
J  were  copied  from  the  same  original  as  the  versions  in 
C  (cf.  page  xiii),  evidently  O.  E.  Misc.  II.,  III.,  IV., 
V.  were  inserted  after  The  Owl  before  XX. -XXV. 
were  begun.1  Next  were  copied  the  first  of  the  short 
poems  in  C  (  O.  E.  Misc.  XX. )  and  a  part  of  the  sec- 

1  For  this  and  the  following,  consult  list  of  contents  of  C  and  J  at 
pages  vii,  x. 


3|ntroDuctton  xxi 

ond  (  0.  E.  Misc.  XXI.),  a  part  of  which  remains  to 
us.  Perhaps  next  followed  the  rest  of  XXI.  and  O.  E. 
Misc.  XXVI  (  Will  and  Wit,  next  in  C  and  the  only 
short  English  poem  in  C  not  in  J )  and  one  or  more  lost 
poems.  Next  come  the  last  part  of  O.  E.  Misc.  XI., 
and  VI.  and  VII.  (none  of  which  is  in  C,  the  last  of 
them  When  Holy  Church).  Next  are  the  other  four 
short  poems  in  C  (O.  E.  Misc.  XXII.-XXV.  inch), 
and  then  O.  E.  Misc.  VIII.,  IX.,  X.  {A Luue  Ron), 
and  the  first  part  of  XL,  none  of  which  is  in  C.  Next 
follows  the  fragment,  O.  E.  Misc.  XII.  (preceded  by 
lost  matter);  and  then  come  XIII.— XVIII.;  none  of 
which  is  in  C.  Then  follows  the  piece  on  f.  268  r, 
then  lei  comence  de  Tobye,  and  then  O.  E.  Misc.  XIX., 
none  of  which  is  in  C.  If  the  shifting  of  leaves  sug- 
gested at  page  xii  were  made,  one  would  have  The 
Passion,  The  Owl,  II. -V.  inch,  XX.,  fragment  of 
XXL,  lost  matter,  XXV.,  VIII.-XI.  incl.,  VI.,  VII., 
XXIL-XXIV.,  lost  matter,  XII.-XVIII.  inch,  and 
the  rest  as  in  the  present  arrangement.  The  present 
arrangement  points  to  O.  E.  Misc.  II.— V.,  VI. -VII., 
VIIL— XIX.  as  groups  of  poems  inserted  by  the  scribe 
of  J.  The  shifted  arrangement  points  to  the  same  groups 
of  insertions,  but  locates  XXV.  in  J  out  of  the  order  it 
has  in  C.  If  the  idea  of  inserted  groups  be  true,  the 
date  of  The  Owl  is  not  to  be  determined  by  means  of 
When  Holy  Church  or  A  Luue  Ron.  Moreover,  the 
fact  that  these  poems  are  not  found  in  the  earlier  MS. 
stands  in  the  way  of  their  being  considered  as  helping 
to  the  date.  Their  appearance  in  J  means  merely  that 
they  were  composed  before  MS.  J  was  copied. 


xxii  31ntroUuctton 

(6)  In  view  of  (  I  ),  "King  Henri"  (1.  1091) 
must  be  held  to  be  Henry  II.,  unless  there  be  the  un- 
usual meaning  of  a  wish  for  the  King's  soul  after  he  may 
die,  or  unless  "  Henri"  be  other  than  a  king  of  Eng- 
land. It  does  not  follow  that  the  poem  was  written 
immediately  after  Henry's  death.  Here  may  seem  rea- 
son to  think,  however,  that  it  was  composed  not  very 
late  in  the  reign  of  the  next  Henry. 

(7)  The  peace  (11.  1730  et  seq.)  that  Borsch  '  sug- 
gests may  be  the  peace  and  festivities  of  1220,  is  per- 
haps merely  in  sarcasm,  England  being  really  little  at 
peace  in  all  this  period.  It  may  well  be  the  peace  of 
the  community  of  birds,  or  of  the  neighborhood  of  Dor- 
set, the  "  King's  peace."  The  King  may  be  supposed 
by  the  birds  to  be  directly  concerned  in  their  affairs, 
and  perhaps  expected  to  interfere,  as  in  11.  1049  et  seq., 
1 09 1  et  seq. 

(8)  The  passages  concerning  cursing  (11.  11 79, 
1  3  1  1 )  may  have  been  suggested  by  the  many  Papal  inter- 
dicts and  excommunications  between  1200  and  1220.2 
But  such,  public  and  private,  were  not  at  all  uncom- 
mon at  any  time  during  the  century,  though  they  were 
especially  frequent  under  Innocent  III.  The  interdict 
of  1  208-1  2 14  in  England  must  have  made  a  lasting 
impression.  — This  all  could  give  but  corroborative  evi- 
dence. Moreover,  the  mere  fact  of  the  powrer  of  ex- 
communication as  an  attribute  of  priesthood,  would  give 
sufficient  suggestion  for  the  passages  in  question. 

(9)  One  may  accept  Borsch's  suggestion  3  that  sum 

1    Utber  Metrii  und  Poetii,  etc.  :  cf.  Bibliography. 
»  Borsch,  op.  cit.  *   Of.  cit. 


3IntroDuctton  xxiii 

of  Rome  (1.  1016)  is  an  allusion  to  Cardinal  Guala  and 
his  mission  to  the  Scotch  in  1218.  But  one  sees  from 
the  context  (11.  907  et  seq.,  995-1030)  that  the  mis- 
sion may  have  been  to  Ireland,  or  possibly  to  Norway 
or  Galway,  as  well  as  to  Scotland.  Then,  sum  (cf. 
Note  1  o  1 6  )  may  be  plural,  and  thus  a  number  of  mis- 
sions may  be  alluded  to.  The  concern  and  activity  of 
the  Papal  authorities  to  establish  peace  and  some  eccle- 
siastical discipline  in  disorganized  Ireland  between  1 1 50 
and  1  200,  is  well  known. 

(10)  The  story  of  the  knight  and  the  nightingale 
(11.  1049  et  seq.-,  cf.  Note),  may  have  been  common 
property.  It  is  found,  however,  recorded  in  Neckam, 
who  was  popular  at  the  end  of  the  12th  century.1  As 
Courthope  2  suggests,  the  Lai  de  Laustic  of  Marie  de 
France  may  have  suggested  details  about  the  snares. 

(11)  The  so-called  Proverbs  of  Alfred  were  popu- 
lar especially  in  the  1  2th  century  and  the  first  part  of 
the  1  3th.8  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  the 
proverbs  may  well  have  been  current  later  (witness  those 
in  Proverbs  of  Hendyng*),  though  not  in  literary  form 
or  not  ascribed  to  Alfred.  —  The  parallel  to  1.  638  in 
the  Roman  de  Re?iart  of  the  last  of  the  12th  century  or 

*  Cf.  Wright's  edition,  Rolls  Series,  Preface. 
8  Hist,  of  Eng.  Poetry,!.  135. 

II  n'ot  Vallet  en  sa  meisun 
Ne  face  engin,  reis,  a  lasenus, 
Puis  le  mettent  par  le  vergier. 
Ni  ot  codre,  ne  chastainier, 
U  il  ne  mettent  laz  e  glu, 
Tant  que  pris  Punt  e  retenu. 

8  Cf.  Matzner,  Altengl.  Sprachproben,  i.  40:  also  Note  176. 

*  Skeat,  Specimens,  ii.  "  A.  D.  127Z-1307." 


xxiv  3]ntrotJucttott 

the  beginning  of  the  I  3  th,1  may  mean  little.    It  is  found 
also  in  a  collection  of  the  early  12th  century.1 

(12)  The  debat  began  to  flourish  in  French  at  the 
end  of  the  12th  century  and  the  first  half  of  the  13th. 

(13)  The  short  couplet  began  to  have  wide  vogue 
in  French  at  the  end  of  the  12  th  century  and  the  first 
half  of  the  13  th. 

(14)  The  excellence  of  the  versification2  would 
point  to  a  late  date  —  but  perhaps  not  so  in  view  of 
the  general  excellence  of  the  poem,  which  indicates  a 
superior  poet. 

(15)  The  rareness  of  occurrences  (cf.  page  li)  of 
French  derivatives  points  to  a  comparatively  early  period. 
This  is  notable  in  view  of  the  impression  that  the  reader 
receives  of  acquaintance  on  the  part  of  the  author  with 
literature  other  than  the  English. 

(16)  After  mature  study  of  the  language  of  all  the 
works  in  English  of  the  period,  Morsbach  placed  The 
Owl  among  the  important  bases  for  study  of  the  middle 
Southern  dialect,  and  accepted  the  date  "  about  1  220  " 
for  the  poem.3 

In  view  of  (6)  the  poem  was  probably  not  composed 
earlier  than  the  death  of  Henry  II.,  i.  e.  1 189.  In 
view  of  (3),  (8),  (9),  (10),  (11),  (12),  (13),  the 
poem  could  have  been  composed  between  11 89  and 
1  200,  or  at  any  time  during  the  century  following  1 1 89. 
In  view  of  (1)  and  (2)  considered  with  (3),  the  earlier 
MS.  was  written  after  12 16,  perhaps  ten  or  twenty 
years  after  12  16;  and  the  poem,  of  which  this  MS.  is 

1    Cf.  Note  6}8.  2  Cf.  remarks  on  Versification,  p.  lxiv. 

8  Mittelengliiche  Grammatii,  pp.  9-10. 


^Introduction  xxv 

a  copy  of  a  copy,  would  seem  to  have  been  composed 
perhaps  ten  or  fifteen  years  earlier  (one  giving  time 
for  the  copying  of  the  copy  of  ?  the  original).  Then, 
(i),  (2),  (3),  would  seem  to  point  to  about  121 6— 
1225,  a  conclusion  assisted  by  (15)  and  confirmed  by 
the  linguistic  characteristics  (16).  This  is  negatived  only 
by  possibly  (14).  In  (5)  all  the  actual  evide?ice  (not 
opinion)  that  has  been  offered  for  a  later  date,  is  shown 
not  to  bear  on  the  question. 

In  all  this  it  must  be  observed  that  the  argument  for 
date  rests  (1)  on  the  supposed  date  of  the  extant  manu- 
scripts, especially  of  C  ;  and  (2)  on  comparison  of  the 
form  and  language  of  the  manuscripts  of  the  poem  with 
the  form  and  language  of  other  works  of  the  period. 
It  is  clear  that  where  direct  evidence  of  the  age  of  a 
manuscript  is  not  found  in  definite  statement  or  allusion, 
there  must  always  be  more  or  less  doubt  concerning  the 
actual  age.  It  is  well  known,  too,  that  the  dates  of 
practically  all  thirteenth  century  works  in  English  are 
uncertain,  and  that  therefore  argument  based  on  resem- 
blance of  characteristics  of  form  and  language  in  these 
works  can  afford  but  evidence  pointing  to  relative  loca- 
tion as  to  time  among  these  works. 

III.    The   Author. 

1 .  The  Name.  Though  Wright *  and  Stevenson  2 
leaned  to  the  opinion  that  the  author  of  The  Owl  and 
the  Nightingale  was  the  Nicholas  of  Guildford  whom 

1  Edit,  of  1843,  Preface  p.  vii.     Biog.  Brit.  Lit.,  An.-Norm.  Per.,  pp. 
438-439. 

2  Edit,  of  1838,  Preface. 


xxvi  31ntroDuction 

the  birds  chose  as  umpire  (cf.  11.  191,  1746  et  seq.), 
scholars  generally  hold  that  Nicholas  did  not  compose 
the  poem.  Says  Matzner  of  Nicholas,  "  His  self-praise 
would  be  surprising  if  he  were  the  author.  Probably 
he  was  an  ecclesiastic  in  the  place  mentioned,  whom 
the  poet  honored."1  Wulcker  remarks,  "  Nicholas  is 
always  named  in  a  manner  which  makes  it  impossible 
that  he  can  be  the  author,  or  if  he  were  he  must  have 
been  one  of  the  most  conceited  of  men  (cf.  11.  191, 
1755).  Moreover,  the  poet  says  at  the  beginning, 
1  Ich  was  in  one  sumere  dale,'  etc.  (i.  e.  the  poet  was 
present  during  the  dispute).  Nicholas  is  always  spoken 
of  as  an  absent  person  who  dwelt  in  Portesham  in 
Dorset  —  and  at  the  close  we  have  (1. 1789),  'Mid 
pisse  worde  for]?  hi  ferden,'  etc.  If  he  were  one  with 
Nicholas,  why  should  the  author  let  the  birds  go  away, 
instead  of  coming  forth  from  his  concealment,  or  why 
could  he  not  tell  us  of  the  verdict  ?  M  2  It  may  be  replied 
to  this  that  the  poet  had  no  intention  of  giving  a  defi- 
nitely formulated  statement  of  his  solution  of  the  question 
that  he  had  raised.  — Ten  Brink  says,  "The  manner 
in  which  his  virtues,  his  justice,  prudence,  and  wisdom 
are  dwelt  upon,  makes  it  impossible  to  regard  him  as 
the  poet  himself,  because  such  self-laudation  would  ill 
agree  with  those  qualities.     But  there  is  no  doubt  that 

1  Alttngl.  Sprachproben,  i.  40.  —  The  idea  of  choosing  a  person  as  an 
honor  and  as  a  means  of  praising  him  and  furthering  his  welfare,  seems  to 
have  been  generally  the  motive  for  choosing  the  judge  in  the  Provencal 
partimen.  The  same  seems  true  for  the  most  part  of  the  Old  French  jeu- 
parti.  Cf.  Knobloch,  Die  Streitgedichte  im  Provenxalischen  und  Alt- 
franxosischen,  p.  48;  Diss.  Breslau,  1886:  Selbach,  Das  Streitgedicht  in 
der  Altprovenxalischen  Lyrik,  177] ,  in  Stengel's  Ausgab.  u.  Abhand.,  vol. 
57  :   Meyer,  Dern.  Troub.,  p.  69,  note. 

a  Paul  and  Braune's  Beitrdge,  i.  70. 


31nttoUuction  xxvii 

the  poet  could  take  the  outlines  of  the  portrait  of  Master 
Nicholas  from  his  own  character,  and  that  he  depicts 
himself  in  his  friend.  Perhaps  the  passage  especially 
applies  to  him,  according  to  which  Master  Nicholas  had 
formerly  been  dissolute,  and  had  liked  the  nightingale 
and  'other  gentle  and  small  creatures,'  but  had  since 
become  staid,  and  would  in  no  wise  let  himself  be  led 
into  wrong  by  old  love"  (11.  202  et  seq.).1  There 
is  something  to  be  said  for  Saintsbury's  suggestion  2  that 
the  argument  on  the  basis  of  excessive  self-praise  does 
not  have  so  much  weight  for  the  1  3  th  century  as  for  a 
later  period. 

If  the  authorship  be  denied  to  Nicholas,  we  have  but 
one  other  name  to  which  to  assign  it.  On  f.  228  of 
the  Jesus  College  MS.,  at  the  end  of  The  Passion  of 
Our  Lord,  the  poem  immediately  preceding  The  Owly 
is  a  note  by  a  former  owner  of  the  MS.,  probably 
Thomas  Wilkins,  LL.  B.,3  Rector  of  St.  Mary,  Gla- 
morganshire: "  On  parte  of  a  broaken  leafe  of  this  MS. 
I  found  these  verses  written,  whereby  the  Author  may 
bee  gues't  at  (viz.) 

Mayster  Johan  eu  greteb-  of  Guldeuorde  bo. 
And  lendeb  [sendeb  ?]  eu  to  seggen.    bat  synge  nul  he  no.  [mo  ?] 
Ne  [Nu  ?]  on  bisse  wise  he  wille  endy  his  song  : 
God  Louerd  of  Heuene.  beo  vs  alle  among  : 
Amen." 

1  Early  English  Literature,  Bohn,  pp.  217-218. 

2  Short  Hist,  of  Eng.  Lit.,  p.  61. 

3  On  a  fly-leaf  at  the  beginning  of  the  MS.  is  :  "Bibliotheca  Coll.  Jesu 
Oxon.  hoc  Manuscriptum  (cum  2bus  alijs)  humillime  D.  D.  D.  Tho. 
Wilkins  LL.  B.  Rector  B.  M.  super  Monte  in  Agro  Glamorganensi."  The 
name  of  Tho.  Wilkins  occurs  on  the  last  page  and  on  several  other  pages. 


xxviii  5|ntroDuctton 

The  maker  of  this  note  does  not  state  in  what  part 
of  the  MS.  he  found  the  "  broaken  leafe."  Was  it  a 
fly-leaf?  Or  was  it  one  of  the  leaves  apparently  missing 
at  fF.  253  v,  261  v  r1  It  seems  that  we  can  do  no 
more  than  conjecture  what  part  of  the  poems  in  the 
MS.  was  written  by  John.  There  is  no  more  reason  to 
assign  The  Passion  to  John,  than  to  assign  any  other 
or  others  of  the  poems.  Indeed  the  conclusion  of  The 
Passion  is  such  as  to  render  it  very  improbable  that  any 
such  matter  as  is  quoted  in  the  note  was  attached  to 
that  poem.  Moreover,  it  has  been  shown  (cf.  page 
x)  that  a  large  part  of  f.  228  r  on  which  The  Passion 
ends,  and  all  off.  228  V,  are  blank  except  for  later  scrib- 
blings.  The  colophon  probably  belonged  to  a  poem  lost 
between  fF.  253  v  and  254^  or  261  v  and  262  r,  or 
elsewhere  in  J  or  the  corresponding  part  of  its  original. 
As  all  the  pieces  in  J  seem  to  be  in  one  handwriting,  it 
is  possible  that  The  Owl  and  the  poem  with  Wilkins's 
colophon  were  both  in  the  original  of  J.  But  this  hypo- 
thetical poem  and  its  colophon  are  not  in  the  older  MS. 
C,  and  may  have  been  inserted  in  the  series  of  poems 
by  the  scribe  of  J,  as  we  have  suggested  (cf.  page  xxi) 
several  other  poems  were  inserted. 

It  is  possible,  then,  that  in  John  of  Guildford  we  have 
the  author  of  The  Owl,  who  introduced  Nicholas  out 
of  compliment,  or  because  of  a  desire  to  better  the  for- 
tunes of  his  relative  or  friend.  But  if  we  accept  this  we 
must  bear  in  mind  the  real  slightness  of  the  grounds  that 
we  have  for  declaring  the  possibility.  No  mention  of 
John  is  in  C.    We  have  little  reason  for  supposing  that 

1  Cf.  page  xii. 


3f|ntrotmctton  xxix 

the  "  broaken  leafe  "  followed  The  Owl'w.  the  original 
of  J.  The  colophon  was  not  written  in  the  blank  space  at 
the  end  of  The  Ozv/'m]  fol.  241  v,  col.  2.  Moreover, 
it  does  not  follow  that  if  John  wrote  another  poem  in 
this  MS.  he  wrote  The  Owl.  —  Probably  we  are  safest 
in  agreeing  with  Wiilcker  in  ascribing  the  poem  "to 
an  unknown  poet  who  wrote  the  work  in  honor  of 
Nicholas  of  Guildford,"  or  at  least  to  an  unknown  poet 
who  in  his  poem  did  honor  to  his  friend.1 

The  name  of  the  author  matters  little  after  all  :  it  is 
the  man,  his  character,  his  mind  and  thought,  his  atti- 
tude toward  life  and  art,  that  are  really  important. 

2.  The  Man  and  Poet.  Under  Henry  II.  the  king- 
dom of  England  came  to  include  not  only  all  England 
and  more  than  half  of  Ireland,  but  also  above  one-third 
of  modern  France,  more  than  half  of  France  of  that  day. 
From  his  parents  Henry  had  inherited  Anjou  and  Tou- 
raine,  Maine  and  Normandy.  Through  his  brother 
he  ruled  Brittany.  By  his  marriage  with  Eleanor  of 
Guienne  he  came  to  be  governor  of  Poitou,  Auvergne, 
Marche,  Gascony,  Aquitaine,  and  Guienne.  England 
became  the  centre  of  all  this  territory,  and  London  its 
capital.  Commercial  and  social  intercourse  between  all 
the  parts  of  the  realm  was  practically  unrestricted.  By 
trade  with  the  French  and  Provencal  provinces,  mer- 
chants of  London  and  other  English  ports  gained  fortunes 

1  Of  Nicholas  Madden  notes  :  M  In  all  probability  he  was  the  vicar  of 
Portesham  (near  Abbotsbury),  and  the  chartulary  of  Abbotsbury,  in  the 
possession  of  the  Earl  of  Ilchester,  might  perhaps  determine  the  point,  and 
fix  the  age  of  the  poem.  .  .  ."  (Warton's  Hist,  of  Eng.  Poetry,  edit.  1840, 
i.  26.) 


xxx  3IntroDurtton 

rapidly  and  easily.  The  products  of  northern  and 
southern  France  were  sold  through  England,  and  Eng- 
lish goods  were  spread  in  exchange  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Channel.  To  the  English  capital,  led  by  duty, 
by  curiosity,  and  by  the  desire  for  gain,  came  soldier 
and  sailor,  courtier  and  merchant,  poet  and  scholar. 
AH  found  here  satisfaction  of  their  desires,  appreciation 
and  encouragement  of  their  peculiar  worth,  and  employ- 
ment for  their  highest  powers. 

It  was  in  great  part  this  close  intercourse,  the  in- 
fluence of  the  broader  culture  and  more  catholic  and 
refined  experience  of  the  North  and  South  of  France, 
during  the  latter  half  of  the  twelfth  century,  that  gave 
the  English  people  and  the  English  literature  the  breadth 
and  polish  that  they  developed  through  the  next  century. 
True  it  is  that  to  speak  of  English  literature  in  the 
twelfth  century  is  impossible.  Composition  in  English 
during  this  period  was  unadvisable  as  it  was  unprofit- 
able. Those  to  whom  the  writer  was  forced  to  turn  for 
recognition  and  reward,  the  cultivated  and  courtly,  had 
their  tastes  tempered  by  the  refinements,  and  their  ears 
attuned  to  the  elaborate  melodies,  of  French  and  Pro- 
vencal art.  From  the  landing  of  Taillefer  the  audience 
of  the  fashionable  and  polite  had  no  regard  for  the  harsh 
and  tedious  strains  of  the  older  English  song. 

Following  the  precedent  to  a  greater  or  less  degree 
practiced  by  his  predecessors,  Henry  while  Duke  of 
Normandy  had  made  himself  a  patron  of  literature. 
At  Bordeaux,  William  of  Poitou,  the  father  of  the  trou- 
badours, and  Eleanor,  his  cultivated  and  brilliant  daugh- 
ter,  had  held  court  ;  and  there  the  troubadours  and 


3|ntroDuction  xxxi 

poets  of  all  Provencal  territories  had  betaken  themselves 
with  the  assurance  of  sympathy,  appreciation,  favor, 
and  reward.  As  Queen  of  France  Eleanor  preserved 
and  extended  this  patronage,  both  in  the  court  of  the 
French  King  and  in  her  own  capital  Bordeaux,  adding 
to  her  train  of  Provencal  poets  many  French  singers. 

The  marriage  of  Henry  and  Eleanor  in  1152  and 
their  assumption  of  the  English  throne  in  11  54,  pro- 
duced no  discontinuance  of  this  patronage  by  the  two 
rulers,  but  made  the  English  court  the  home  of  the 
most  able  and  gifted  French  and  Provencal  poets.  Such 
was  the  prestige  that  this  patronage  by  Henry  and  Elea- 
nor gave  to  Provencal  and  French  poetry  in  England,  that 
it  is  estimated  from  actual  count *  that  two-thirds  of  the 
French  writers  of  the  period  (1 1  54-1  206)  were  Eng- 
lishmen or  connected  closely  with  the  English  court  ; 
while  many  of  the  most  famous  Provencal  troubadours 
lived  for  extended  periods  in  England. 

The  Norman  conquest  and  the  policy  of  William  and 
his  successors  led  to  the  institution  and  fostering  of  an 
extensive  ecclesiastical  establishment.  Abbeys  and  mon- 
asteries were  founded  in  great  numbers,  and  rapidly 
attained  great  wealth  and  prestige.  Churchmen  of  insular 
and  Continental  origin  and  training  gained  such  influence 
in  the  political  world  that  they  were  numbered  among 
the  most  able  and  potent  counsellors  and  administrators 
of  the  realm.  The  comparative  peace  of  the  kingdom, 
the  rapid  growth  of  the  Church  in  possessions  and 
authority  in  England,  and  the  close  association  with 

1  Jacobs,  The  Fables  of  JEsop  as  First  Printed  by   Caxton,  London, 
David  Nutt,  i.  p.  180. 


xxxii  ^Introduction 

the  Continent,  led  to  the  re-establishment  of  learning  in 
the  island.  The  fruits  of  the  efforts  of  Alcuin  and  his 
successors  were  borne  back  to  England  in  the  persons 
of  a  host  of  cultivated  and  scholarly  men  and  in  the 
inspiration  of  hundreds  of  manuscripts.  Libraries  were 
established,  books  were  imported  and  copied  with  the 
utmost  diligence.  A  body  of  students  grew  up  eager 
for  truth  and  knowledge.  Between  the  schools  of  the 
island  and  those  of  the  mainland,  passed  and  repassed 
hundreds  of  scholars,  noble  and  plebeian,  seeking  new 
attainments  or  new  fields  for  the  dissemination  of  what 
they  had  already  made  their  own. 

As  to  the  courtier,  so  to  the  scholar  the  vernacular 
was  a  barbarous  tongue.  To  him,  cleric  or  layman, 
Latin,  the  common  medium  of  communication  among 
all  nations,  with  the  prestige  of  centuries,  was  the  lan- 
guage of  learning.  Encouraged  by  such  rulers  as  Henry 
Beauclerc  and  Henry  II.,  the  subjects  of  the  English 
monarchs  produced  during  the  twelfth  century  a  mass 
of  literature  in  Latin  that  included  many  writings  which 
at  once  became  current  authorities  throughout  Europe. 
The  body  of  this  Latin  literature  is  made  up  of  ser- 
mons, scientific  and  medical  works,  chronicles,  epi- 
grams, satires,  treatises  in  literary  criticism,  political 
writings,  romances,  and  verse  extending  in  pretension 
from  the  drinking  song  to  the  epic ;  compositions  ranging 
from  the  lucubrations  of  the  most  learned  and  sedate 
historians,  theologians,  and  savants  of  the  day  to  the 
ribald  catches  and  irreverent  satires  of  the  wandering 
clerks. 

During  that  portion  of  the  thirteenth  century  with 


3f|ntro&uction  xxxiii 

which  the  student  of  The  Owl  is  concerned,  Paris  still 
remained  the  general  centre  of  learning  of  all  kinds. 
To  it  went  year  after  year  great  numbers  of  English 
students  who  had  been  trained  in  the  French  tongue 
for  this  culmination  of  their  preliminary  studies ;  and 
from  it  came  to  England  scores  of  scholars  seeking  fame 
and  position  in  the  schools,  and  patronage  among  church- 
men and  laity.  The  French  literature  and  the  French 
language  still  retained  the  prestige  which  they  had  held 
as  the  offspring  of  Latin,  and  as  the  most  widely  used 
and  most  polished  and  artistic  vernacular  expression  in 
Europe.  Englishmen  still  cultivated  the  French  language 
and  still  read  and  imitated  French  writings :  but  already 
in  the  first  years  of  the  century  conditions  were  in  force 
that  were  preparing  for  the  neglect  of  French  as  French. 
A  consciousness  of  its  own  power  and  its  own  des- 
tiny had  been  growing  in  the  English  people.  A  reali- 
zation of  self-respect,  of  pride  in  its  own  and  of  duty 
to  its  own,  was  coming  into  being.  The  final  loss  of 
the  French  provinces  in  1204  made  the  English  almost 
the  only  subjects  of  the  English  King.  A  recognition 
of  nationality  that  had  been  evident  in  an  instinctive 
demand  for  a  nation  and  not  an  empire,  was  fostered 
by  the  events  of  the  last  years  of  John  which  culminated 
in  the  Magna  Charta  and  the  establishment  at  least  in 
name  of  a  constitutional  government.  As  the  civil  and 
political  separation  of  Frenchman  and  Englishman  in- 
creased until  it  led  to  the  proclamation  of  Louis  in  1  244 
and  to  Henry's  retaliatory  confiscation  of  the  possessions 
of  Frenchmen  in  England,  there  grew  the  acceptation 
of  the  right  of  the  English-speaking  public  in  demanding 


xxxiv  jflntrotiuctton 

a  literature  of  its  own,  and  the  recognition  of  the  need 
of  satisfying  this  demand.  —  Moreover,  the  ill  life  of  the 
wandering  clerks  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries, 
the  composers  of  a  great  part  of  the  lyrical  poetry  in 
the  Latin,  came  to  be  frowned  upon  more  and  more  by 
the  regular  clergy.  During  the  first  half  of  the  thir- 
teenth century  the  Church  gradually  prepared  by  ordi- 
nance after  ordinance  for  the  severe  decrees  of  the  latter 
half.1  At  the  opening  of  the  century  the  jongleur  and 
the  Goliardic  clerk  were  constant  companions,  and  often 
were  merged  into  one.  Consequently  the  clerk  not  in- 
frequently at  an  early  period  did  what  he  was  forced  to 
do  as  the  century  progressed :  he  used  the  vernacular 
instead  of  the  Latin.  Thus  he  obtained  an  increased 
audience  and  favor,  and  a  better  living.  From  this  cause 
arose  many  original  poems  in  French  and  English. 
Again,  a  number  of  Goliardic  Latin  poems  were  given 
a  vernacular  form  either  by  the  clerks  or  by  their  jon- 
gleur friends. 

For  the  new  poetry  in  English  French,  it  is  true, 
was  to  be  the  pattern  and  model  and  source,  in  great 
part.  Latin  was  to  be  the  tongue  for  the  preservation 
and  dissemination  of  the  sciences.  But  the  monk  and 
the  courtier  versed  in  the  literature  of  learning  and  of 
elegance,  the  clerk  and  later  the  friar  who  had  been 
taught  to  know  men  and  to  know  nature  by  long  wan- 
derings, and  the  simple  uneducated  balladist  and  song- 
maker,  in  numbers  that  increased  as  time  passed,  uttered 
of  the  best  within  them,   of  the  best  that   they  had 

1  Hubatsch,  Dj«  Lateinischen  Vagantenliedtr  des  A/itt«/<a/f*r;,  Gorlitz, 
1870,  pp.  94  et  seq. 


iflntro&uction  xxxv 

learned,  for  the  instruction  and  delight  of  the  great 
body  of  English-speaking  people,  for  Englishmen  in 
their  own  tongue.  It  was  thus  that  the  real  literature 
in  English  began  :  for  this  were  composed  the  Brut  of 
La^amon,  the  Ormulum,  The  Owl  and  the  Nightin- 
gale, the  political,  the  ecclesiastical,  the  nature,  and  the 
love  lyrics,  and  the  prose  and  the  poetical  romances,  of 
the  thirteenth  century. 

Never  having  been  conquered  and  settled  by  the 
Northmen  in  a  former  time,  the  South  of  England  pre- 
served more  of  the  real  Anglo-Saxon  national  spirit 
than  any  other  part  of  the  island.  By  location  it  was 
very  accessible  to  most  of  the  new  influences  that  were 
potent  in  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries.  From 
these  two  facts  one  would  be  led  to  expect  what  seems 
to  be  the  actual  result,  that  the  South  would  be  the 
home  of  the  first  group  of  writers  of  the  new  English. 
Here  undoubtedly,  before  more  than  a  few  scattered 
works  were  written  in  other  parts  of  the  island,  was 
produced  a  very  considerable  body  of  literature  in  prose 
and  verse.  Here  were  composed  in  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury the  Poema  Morale,  the  Pater  Noster,  and  prob- 
ably several  versions  of  the  Proverbs  of  Alfred ;  and 
in  the  first  half  of  the  thirteenth  century,  the  Ancren 
Riwle,  the  Lives  of  Margaret,  Juliana,  and  Katherine, 
the  Wohunge  of  ure  Lauerde,  Hali  Meidenhad,  Sawles 
Warde,  the  Brut  oS  La^amon,  the  Trinity  Margaretha, 
and  the  lyrics  from  the  Cotton  and  Jesus  MSS.  printed 
by  Morris  (cf.  pages  vii,  x). 

A  very  careful  study  of  the  poetry  of  this  period  in 
the  South  with  exception  of  the  Brut,  will  show  that 


xxxvi  31mro&uction 

the  subject-matter  consists  in  whole  poems  or  in  parts, 
directly  or  indirectly,  in  great  part  of  two  themes. 
The  first  of  these  is  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  virginity 
and  of  devotion  to  the  Heavenly  Lover,  and  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  terrors  of  Death  and  the  horrors  of 
Hell.  The  second  is  the  utterance  of  the  results  of 
actual  observation  and  experience  in  life,  helpful  and 
of  practical  application  for  every-day  living  in  the  world. 
These  utterances  take  the  form  of  wise  saws  or  popular 
proverbs  (as  in  the  Proverbs  of  Alfred)  \  or  they  are 
declarations  of  personal  loss  as  the  result  of  failure  to 
conform  to  rules  that  the  poet  recognizes  as  being  es- 
sential for  right  living  (as  in  the  Poema  Morale)-,  or 
they  are  deliberate  statements  oi'  the  prevalence  of  spe- 
cific sins  or  peccadilloes,  and  announcement  of  the  in- 
evitable payment  that  will  be  exacted  from  the  erring 
(as  in  A  Lute  I  Soth  Sermun).  In  all  these  Southern 
works  there  is  seen  a  desire  to  help  men  to  live  for  their 
best  good  on  earth  and  thereafter.  The  method  by 
which  this  living  shall  be  done  is  usually  the  method 
prescribed  by  the  mediaeval  Church,  worship  of  vir- 
ginity, avoidance  of  sins  of  the  flesh  by  complete  denial 
of  all  fleshly  desires  and  full  abnegation  of  all  material 
goods  and  of  all  connection  with  family  or  friend. 
Asceticism,  in  short,  is  the  general  method  at  the  base 
of  the  efforts  of  practically  all  of  the  writers  toward  a 
solution  of  the  task  of  right  living.  It  is  only  in  such 
works  as  the  Proverbs  of  Alfred  and  The  Owl  and  the 
Nightingale,  where  the  plain  sense  of  the  common 
people  has  its  way,  that  the  larger  recognition  of  the 
worth  of  this  world  and  man's  life  in  it  for  their  own 


ifintrotmction  xxxvii 

sakes  as  well  as  for  an  ultimate  end,  is  recognized  or 
urged. 

In  the  group  of  poets  that  were  active  in  the  South 
of  England  at  the  beginning  of  the  13th  century,  the 
author  of  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale  stands  pre- 
eminent. Of  striking  vigor  and  originality  of  mind, 
possessing  a  sane  critical  judgment  founded  on  a  con- 
siderable culture,  and  endowed  with  astonishing  poeti- 
cal gifts  for  his  time  and  environment,  he  produced  a 
composition  that  seems  the  earliest,  and  from  many 
points  of  view  the  best,  original  long  poem  of  a  wholly 
imaginative  character  written  in  English  before  the  time 
of  Chaucer. 

Though  he  was  probably  connected  with  the  Church,1 
the  poet  turned  from  the  praise  of  the  saints  and  the  cult 
of  the  Virgin.  He  threw  off  entirely  the  religious  domi- 
nation which,  while  it  inspired,  was  limiting  sadly  and 
directing  into  an  alien  channel,  the  literary  efforts  in 
English  of  his  cultivated  contemporaries.  It  is  true 
that  his  poem  is  beneath  all  didactic  :  but  it  is  not 
ecclesiastical,  or  merely  religious.  Neither  (A)  the 
teaching  nor  (  B  )  the  method  of  presentation,  is  that  of 
the  learned  or  the  priestly  writers  in  English  of  his  day. 
They  both  are  rather  representative  of  the  "  popular  " 

1  "  The  question  arises,  if  the  author  was  not  a  merry,  half-ecclesiasti- 
cal, half-secular  wandering  cleric,  a  student  of  many  years'  standing,  one 
who,  perhaps,  had  long  studied  at  Oxford.  The  time  had  come  when 
these  tlerkes,  who,  for  several  centuries,  had  composed  in  Latin,  were  to 
turn  to  the  national  art.  The  deep  seriousness  beneath  his  cheerful 
humor  indicates  that  the  author  was  a  mature  man.  The  wandering  cleric 
had  possibly,  several  years  before,  laid  aside  the  pilgrim's  staff,  and  ac- 
cepted a  living,  perhaps  in  Dorset  or  an  adjacent  county."  Ten  Brink, 
Ear.  Eng.  Lit.,  Bonn,  pp.  214-215. 


xxxviii  3flntrot>uetion 

element:     they    are    based   on    practical     experience, 
breadth  of  view,  and  common-sense. 

(A)  The  poet  was  not  an  exhorter  to  virginity  and 
asceticism.  To  him  life,  with  all  the  manifold  goods 
that  it  brings,  was  precious  for  its  own  sake.  He  was 
thoroughly  human,  and  sympathetically  responsive  to 
all  of  worth  about  him.  Constantly  in  the  verses  we 
are  delighted  with  minute  touches  that  could  come  only 
from  an  appreciative,  sympathetic  observer  (a)  of 
Mature  and  the  lower  animals  and  (b)  of  human  life 
and  character.1 

(a)  He  who  reads  the  whole  poem  sympathetically 
feels  that  it  was  not  merely  for  the  sake  of  form  that 
the  poet  introduced  himself  as  loitering  among  the 
blossomed  trees  and  bushes  in  an  out-of-the-way,  dusky 
nook  of  a  dale  far  from  possible  interruption  ;  not 
merely  for  form  that  he  tells  how,  catching  the  song  of 
the  nightingale  as  she  rejoiced  because  of  the  sweetness 
and  freshness  of  green  leaves  and  flowered  twigs,  and 
how,  hearing  the  challenge  to  the  owl  in  her  old,  ivy- 
covered  stump,  he  crouched  down  among  the  bushes 
and  listened  with  keen  delight  to  the  debate  that  followed 
while  dusk  gathered  about,  and  dusk  became  dark,  and 
night  at  last  yielded  to  morning  (cf.  11.  1687,  171 8). 
The  poet  was  not  a  mere  cloistered  monk  or  pent-up 

1  It  will  be  observed  that  a  number  of  the  points  made  depend  to  a  de- 
gree on  passages  that  are  based  more  or  less  on  proverbial  sayings,  or  cur- 
rent figures,  or  what  may  be  such.  The  marked  personal  element  at  these 
places,  the  vividness,  the  aptness,  the  appropriateness,  and  the  caring,  in 
these  passages,  indicate  that  the  poet  saw  and  felt  first,  and  then  merely 
perhaps  utilized  a  M  popular  "  figure  for  helping  expression.  How  many 
and  how  much  of  apparently  proverbial  passages  and  current  figures  are 
really  such,  is  a  matter  difficult  to  determine  (cf.  Note  176). 


3|ntrotittction  xxxix 

scholar  writing  after  a  mere  form.    Many  a  day  he  had 
wandered   through    the  country,    keenly    alive  to  his 
surroundings.    Had  it  not  been  so  he  could  not  have     i 
made  his  poem.   It  was  written  close  to  life  and  Nature. 
It  breathes  everywhere  the  open  "upland"  air. 

In  the  warmth  and  thrill  of  spring  and  early  sum- 
mer the  poet  had  rejoiced  with  the  lily  and  the  rose 
at  the  coming  of  the  nightingale  (11.  433  et  seq.). 
When  the  long  nights  came,  when  naught  was  green 
but  the  home  of  the  owl  (1.  617),  he  had  shivered 
with  the  poor  miserable  creatures  that  were  longing  for 
a  little  warmth  (11.  523  et  seq.).  He  had  seen  the 
nimble,  keen-eyed  hare  elude  the  hounds  (11.  373— 
384).  He  had  watched  the  hunt  when  the  fox,  for  all 
his  wiles,  was  brought  to  earth  and  lost  his  brush  (11. 
809  et  seq.).  With  sympathetic  humorous  apprecia- 
tion he  had  beheld  the  cat  clinging  safe  in  her  tree 
bayed  about  by  her  pursuers  (11.  Roy  et  seq.,  831- 
834).  He  had  laughed  at  the  hen  on  one  leg  in  the 
snow  squawking  in  helpless  distress  (11.  413  et  seq.). 
He  had  pitied  the  patient  horse,  beaten  and  goaded  on 
under  a  heavy  pack  or  before  a  great  load,  and  then 
left  to  stand  at  the  mill-door  in  the  hot  summer  sun  or 
in  the  bleak  winds  of  winter  (11.  773-782).  On  the 
edge  of  a  lonely  marsh  he  had  seen  the  hawk,  baited  by 
carrion  crows,  sail  from  its  lofty  perch  in  lordly  con- 
tempt of  its  base  revilers  (11.  303-308).  He  had 
pondered  on  the  phenomena  of  lower  life,  and  had 
read  into  them  the  life  of  himself.  Through  a  great 
interest  in  things,  a  great  caring,  he  had  come  to 
humanize  the  creatures  with  which  he  met.    It  is  this 


xl  ^Introduction 

that  gave  him  to  write  that  charming  little  serio-comic 
episode  of  domestic  life  in  the  falcon's  nest,  when  the 
mother-bird  is  enraged  at  the  foulness  of  one  of  her 
brood,  and  screeches  at  her  offspring  much  as  the  poet 
had  often  heard  a  peasant  mother  scold  (11.  101-126). 
The  attitude  and  treatment  in  this  episode  are  typi- 
cal of  the  attitude  toward  external  life  throughout  the 
poem.  The  poet  may  have  had  some  suggestion  of  the 
owl  and  the  nightingale  as  debaters,  though  we  find  no 
traces  of  it ;  yet  no  suggestion  could  enable  him  to  present 
with  such  remarkable  dramatic  truth  and  such  sustained 
consistency  as  he  has  attained,  the  accepted  dispositions 
of  the  birds,  their  consequent  attitudes  toward  life, 
their  interests,  their  likes  and  dislikes,  and  their  physi- 
cal characteristics,  deportment,  and  mannerisms  —  to 
present  them,  yet  for  the  most  part  to  make  the  birds 
in  the  heat  of  debate  deliver  themselves  of  themselves, 
show  not  only  their  outer  characteristics,  but  all  their 
inner  beings.  There  is  no  artificiality:  all  is  real,  true. 
As  we  read,  we  have  no  thought  that  the  birds  are 
speaking  for  the  sake  of  the  debate  :  to  us  the  debate 
is  because  the  birds  are  what  they  are.  The  owl  and 
the  nightingale  are  not  puppets,  they  are  not  pretend- 
ing —  defence  and  attack  are  of  vital  import  to  each  of 
them.  So  real  has  the  poet  made  the  contestants,  so 
true  their  humanized  characters,  that,  as  we  read,  we 
almost  feel  that  he  began  to  write  because  of  the  birds 
and  not  because  of  an  ulterior  purpose.  No  suggestion 
could  enable  him  to  accomplish  this  effect.  His  inspira- 
tion and  his  success  could  come  only  from  that  attitude 
toward  life  which  has  been  indicated  in  the  episode 


3flntroDuctton  xli 

of  the  falcons  —  sympathy  for  the  great  and  the  small, 
pervaded  by  a  realization  of  the  humor  in  all. 

As  the  poet  knew  the  other  creatures,  he  knew  the 
owl  and  the  nightingale  well,1  and  he  loved  them  both. 
True  it  is  that  to  his  mind  each  was  defective,  each  was 
lacking  in  qualities  that  were  needed  for  a  perfect  ac- 
tivity. Yet  each  was  dear  to  him  for  the  excellences 
that  she  embodied  in  her  life.  The  nightingale  stood  to 
him,  as  to  his  contemporaries,  for  the  melody,  the  sweet- 
ness, the  grace,  the  beautiful  in  life  —  for  the  aesthetic, 
that  which  ministered  to,  and  existed  for,  pleasure  and 
joy.  Her  use  was  in  this,  to  attract  to  the  delight  of 
living  for  its  own  sake,  to  the  utilization  of  all  the  gifts 
for  enjoyment  and  for  the  expression  of  joy,  that  crea- 
tures were  endowed  with.  But  while  she  ministered 
so,  while  indeed,  as  she  claimed,  much  of  her  activity 
rightly  interpreted  and  accepted  would  make  her  a  trust- 
worthy guide  and  servant  in  serious  things  —  there  was 
danger  of  her  enticing  to  a  course  in  which  pleasure 
was  all,  and  in  which  duty  and  the  stern  realities  of 
life  were  ignored  or  scorned. 

It  was  in  the  owl  that  the  poet  found  embodied  the 
serious  view  of  life.  She  was  despised  for  withdrawing 
from  other  creatures.  She  was  abused  and  beset  and 
beaten  to  death  by  high  and  low,  by  man  (cf.  11.  1 1 II, 
1 165,  13  1  5,  1607)  an^  by  bird  (cf.  11.  275,  etc.), 
because  she  was  different  from  others.     She  was  called 

1  In  a  great  part  of  these  pages,  of  course,  there  is  taken  for  granted  the 
convention  which  the  poet  adopted  and  had  to  adopt  in  order  to  compose 
his  debate,  namely  that  each  of  the  birds  really  had  the  characteristics  of 
exterior  and  deportment  that  men  were  wont  to  attribute  to  her  kind,  and 
as  well  the  human  disposition  and  activity  and  attitude  toward  life  that 
would  be  consistent  with  those  characteristics. 


xlii  31ntroDuction 

foul  (11.  32,  85,  625)  and  blind  (11.  239,  363).  Yet 
as  the  accusation  of  foulness  and  blindness  was  exagger- 
ated, so  was  ignored  the  true  worth  of  her  life  and  her 
activity.  Hers  were  days  and  nights  of  meditation  and 
of  usefulness  that  comes  of  meditation.  Her  apparent 
withdrawal  from  the  delights  of  the  world  gave  her  in- 
sight into  the  under  principles  of  things  (11.  11  87  et 
seq.)y  taught  her  how  to  admonish  for  good  (11.  887, 
1 2  19  et  seq.),  showed  her  where  comfort  and  conso- 
lation were  needed,  and  enabled  her  to  give  to  those  in 
distress.  Wherever  degradation  or  misery  wTas  found, 
she  was  a  dispenser  of  her  good.  She  was  no  respecter 
of  persons  (cf.  11.  905-930).  She  would  hold  all  living 
things  to  the  truer  and  deeper.  Her  character  made 
her  a  bird  of  infinite  usefulness.  Even  her  strength  and 
ugliness  were  a  means  to  assist  mankind.  In  death  she 
rewarded  her  murderers  by  protecting  their  crops  (cf. 
11.  1 121,  161  5  et  seq.).  To  her  the  nightingale  was 
but  a  chatterbox,  an  empty  singer  of  nothingnesses  (11. 
559,  etc.),  who  was  without  any  of  her  own  practical 
usefulness  in  the  world. 

It  was  to  the  owl  that  the  poet  leaned  mainly.  Yet 
he  saw  wherein  she  was  lacking.  Despite  their  worth, 
her  activity  and  her  personality  contained  elements  re- 
pellent to  all  well-balanced  beings,  elements  that  would 
almost  inevitably  lead  to  a  narrow,  cramped  existence. 
Mere  seriousness  or  usefulness,  even  the  happiness  that 
comes  of  serious  living  and  practical  service,  was  not 
enough.  The  right  life  was  made  up  of  these  and  some- 
thing more.  The  life  of  the  owl  needed  as  its  comple- 
ment the  life  of  the  nightingale,  the  joy  of  being  and 


3|ntroDuction  xliii 

doing  for  the  sake  of  being  and  doing.  God  made  the 
world  not  merely  for  lamenting  and  for  consoling  dis- 
tress, but  as  well  for  rejoicing  and  for  sympathy  with 
joy.  Life  was  serious  if  rightly  led,  and  it  demanded 
the  utmost  of  all  who  partook  in  it:  yet  that  very  seri- 
ousness could  not  exist  healthily  and  healthfully  in  its 
common,  less  in  its  highest,  aspirations  and  endeavors, 
without  joyousness. 

(b)  No  mere  lover  of  bird  and  beast  and  wood  and 
stream,  could  have  written  The  Owl  and  the  Nightin- 
gale. To  see  as  he  saw,  to  know  as  he  knew,  to  pre- 
sent as  he  presented,  the  poet  must  have  had  a  broad 
experience  and  a  deep  sympathy  with  human  kind.  He 
is  (  I  )  too  catholic  to  be  the  supporter  of  a  party  or  an 
order,1  (2)  too  evenly  balanced  to  be  soured  by  expe- 
rience. 

(  1  )  To  the  poet  the  priesthood  is  not  for  the  priest- 
hood. For  him  holy  orders  are  but  for  God  and  man. 
His  poem  is  not  of  the  closet  or  cloister.  It  is  redolent 
of  the  atmosphere  of  out-of-doors,  the  atmosphere  of 
life.  When  he  speaks  of  the  monastery  and  the  church, 
it  is  as  if  he  were  looking  in  from  a  world  without 
(cp.  1.  729,  etc.).  His  respect  for  the  priesthood  is 
deep,  and  his  ideal  of  what  the  priest  should  be  is  high. 
Yet  he  is  not  afraid  to  criticise.  He  hints  (1.  11 79) 
that  the  ecclesiastic  is  free  with  anathema.    When  he 

1  The  poet  is  very  frank,  very  impartial  and  judicial.  As  is  true  of  all 
that  is  general  or  universal,  the  matter  and  the  presentation  could  then  or 
now  be  appropriated  perhaps  to  many  single  local  or  contemporary  condi- 
tions (note  the  oft-made  suggestion  c;f  a  veiled  presentation  of  some  con- 
temporary strife),  but  not  definitely  to  one  alone,  and  not  to  the  local  or 
the  contemporary  alone. 


xliv  3IntroDuction 

has  a  fling  at  the  rude  barbarians  of  outland  Ireland, 
Scotland,  Galway,  and  Norway,  who  would  not  listen 
to  the  missions  sent  from  Rome  to  teach  them  how  to 
live  (1.  1016),  his  allusion  to  the  empty  chattering 
of  Irish  priests  (1.  322)  gives  us  to  suppose  that  per- 
haps he  ascribes  the  degradation  of  the  people  partly, 
at  least,  to  the  worthlessness  of  their  spiritual  advisers. 
He  is  outspoken  in  his  declarations  against  the  abuses 
that  have  crept  into  the  Church,  the  bestowing  of  bene- 
fices because  of  influence,  and  the  enriching  of  children 
and  the  incompetent,  while  worth  goes  begging  (11. 
1 76 1— 1778).  He  sees  what  the  clerks  and  the  peo- 
ple generally  are  beginning  to  see  clearly  and  to  jeer  at 
and  curse.  But  he  never  jeers  or  curses.  He  convicts 
churchman  and  layman  by  statement  of  honest  fact,  and 
corrects  with  a  kindly  eye. 

The  whole  poem  is  for  the  sake  of  man  and  sane 
living.  The  wonderful  humanizing  of  its  personages, 
and^  the  sanity  and  moderation  of  its  teachings,  could 
develop  but  from  intimate  acquaintance  with  human 
life  and  from  participation  in  its  joys  and  distresses,  its 
needs  and  its  dangers.  It  is  not  merely  to  atmosphere, 
underlying  principles,  general  tendencies  in  the  poem, 
that  one  must  look  for  this.  It  is  manifested  on  the 
surface  in  details  everywhere.1  In  the  late  fall  the  poet 
had  been  of  many  a  party  when  friend  foregathered 
with  friend  before  the  broad  hearth,  and  the  cup  passed 
around  amid  homelv  mirth  with  jest  and  pleasantry 
(11.  475  et  seq.).  He  had  exulted  with  the  crowd 
when    the  unskilled    wrestler  with    his    one    trick   had 

1  See  note  on  page  xxxviii. 


3IntroDuction  xlv 

thrown  the  champion  (1.  795).  He  had  seen  the  fool 
stake  his  all  upon  one  throw,  and  when  the  dice  were 
uncovered,  slink  away  amid  the  mocking  shouts  of  the 
spectators  (1.  1666).  He  had  helped  the  blind  man 
who  had  been  feeling  his  way  along  the  path,  and,  un- 
aware of  the  ditch  before  him,  had  plunged  into  its 
filth  before  the  poet  could  give  him  warning  (11.  1237— 
1240).  In  the  midst  of  winter,  when  frosts  had  made 
the  earth  like  iron,  and  snow  had  covered  all  the  land, 
he  had  seen  the  poverty-stricken  huddled  together  for 
warmth,  and  his  heart  had  gone  out  with  yearning  pity 
(11.  523  et  seq.).  He  had  known  life.  Distress  he 
had  seen  everywhere:  yet  in  that  he  found  no  ground 
to  be  dejected.  In  spite  of  all,  men  are  happy,  and 
life  is  a  blessing:  that  is  the  atmosphere  of  his  poem. 

(  2  )  The  poet  could  not  become  a  pessimist,1  though 
in  his  work  he  does  dwell  more  on  the  afflictions  of 
men  than  on  their  joys;  nor  could  he  preach  the  nar- 
row living  of  the  monastery.  As  distress  was  every- 
where, so  was  sin.  Yet  this  was  no  cause  to  turn  and 
flee.  God  gave  man  passions,  the  powers  that  go  to 
make  for  enjoyment,  gave  them  for  good,  if  rightly 
used.  It  was  for  man  to  use,  and  not  to  refuse.  The 
accepting  of  life  as  it  is,  because  of  the  possibilities  of 
usefulness  and  goodness  and  happiness  that  it  gives  if 
the  passions  and  inclinations  of  man  be  indulged  and 
directed  with  reason, —  this  it  is  that  caused  the  poet 
to  depart  so  radically  from  the  ecclesiastics  of  his  day 
in  his  attitude  toward  love  between  man  and  woman. 

1  It  is  worth  observing  that  none  of  the  bitter,  the  hard,  selfish, 
cynical  wisdom  of  the  proverb  literature  (especially  the  later  Proverbs  of 
Hendjng),  is  found  in  The  Owl. 


xlvi  31ntrotmction 

"  Bo  vvuch  ho  bo,  vich  luue  is  fele  bitweone  wepmon 
and  wimmane"  (11.  1378-79).  But  so  only  if  it  be 
lawful  love.  Not  only  the  poet's  direct  statements  con- 
cerning love,  but  also  all  the  arguments  he  brings 
against  the  associations  of  the  nightingale  and  the  influ- 
ence of  her  song,  apply  admirably  against  the  atmos- 
phere and  influence  of  the  Love-matter  of  Provencal  and 
French  literature  of  the  times.  Those  who  go  beyond 
the  law,  are  mad:  their  love  is  foul  and  they  are  ac- 
cursed (11.  1380-86).  At  least  one  simple  maid  with 
face  tense  with  passion,  he  has  saved  from  the  seducer 
who  has  beset  her  until  she  has  almost  fallen  (11.  1423— 
66).  Maid  and  wife  he  has  known  to  fall:  but  he  turns 
to  his  reader  with  (11.  141  3— 16),"  He  may  blame  for 
a  lascivious  act  who  himself  sins  worse  in  thought." 
The  adulterer  he  cannot  understand.  The  man  is  but  a 
fool  :  he  condemns  his  soul,  and  did  he  know  the  truth, 
he  would  be  possessed  with  disgust  for  the  object  of  his 
passion  (11.  1473-15 10).  Often  the  poet  has  seen 
the  ruined  home  that  he  pictures.  The  husband  spends 
his  all  on  one  utterly  beneath  his  lovely  wife,  whom  he 
leaves  ill  clad  and  worse  fed  in  a  desolate  hovel.  When 
he  returns  home  he  has  naught  but  curses  for  the  abused 
woman.  Her  endeavors  to  please  him  are  rewarded 
with  blows.  The  breach  widens,  and  she  has  her  re- 
venge (11.  1  523—50).  Again,  he  has  seen  many  a  hus- 
band led  by  jealousy  to  such  mad  freaks  that  he  has 
driven  his  wife  to  just  what  he  would  prevent  (11.  1  55 1  — 
62;    1049-54,  1075-90). 

Surely  all  this  experience,  which  he  feels  so  deeply, 
would  be  enough  to  turn  the  poet  against  love.    But 


3|ntroDuction  xlvii 

not  so:  he  has  seen  the  other  side.  He  gives  us  to 
know  that  his  reply  is  that  of  the  nightingale  to  the  owl 
concerning  her  song: 

' '  For  nis  a  worlde  bing  so  god, 
J?at  ne  mai  do  sum  un-god 
}if  me  hit  wule  turne  amis."    (11.   1363-65.) 

He  opposes  the  charming  picture  of  the  happy  home  of 
"many  a"  knight  and  merchant  and  bondman,  who 
"LuueJ?  and  hald  his  wif  armf," —  of  the  home  in 
which  the  husband  loves  and  honors  his  wife;  in  which 
the  wife  strives  her  utmost  to  please  her  husband  with 
all  little  acts  of  thoughtfulness  and  care  that  she  may  ; 
in  which,  when  the  needs  of  them  both  (and  the  ex- 
pression of  the  poet  marks  the  oneness  of  their  interests) 
call  the  man  away,  the  wife  remains  longing  and  yearn- 
ing for  her  spouse,  troubled  and  fearful  for  him  amid 
the  duties  of  the  day,  and  lying  awake  during  the  long 
night  hours  listening  to  the  owl  who  vainly  strives  to 
comfort  her,  until  the  steps  that  have  seemed  miles  to 
her  have  been  recovered  and  her  loved  one  returns 
again  into  her  arms  (11.  1 575-1602).  — To  the  poet 
who  could  feel  to  draw  such  a  picture,  ecclesiastical 
doctrine  against  that  which  would  produce  such  a  hap- 
piness, could  have  no  force. 

Live,  the  poet  teaches.  Live,  and  enjoy  all  that  God 
has  given.    Be  moderate.     Love  God. 

(  B )  Just  as  the  poet  refused  to  allow  himself  to  be 
led  into  the  treatment  of  purely  religious  and  ecclesi- 
astical subject-matter  that  so  limited  the  efforts  of  his 


xlviii  3IntroDuctton 

cultivated  contemporaries  in  English;  as  he  refused  to 
allow  himself  to  be  drawn  into  any  narrow  and  ascetic 
view  of  life,  and  held  that  all  attitudes  toward  life  had 
some  good  to  offer  to  the  man  who  would  live  sanely ; 
so  he  seems  consciously  or  unconsciously  to  have  resisted 
the  tendency  of  the  learned  of  his  day  in  secular  poetry 
to  select  some  foreign  fashion  to  slavishly  follow,  or  some 
foreign  original  to  translate  or  paraphrase.  From  the 
means  of  expression  that  he  found  used  by  his  contem- 
poraries the  poet  adopted  here  and  there  whatever  seemed 
best  suited  to  the  conveyance  of  his  matter,  and  to  the 
artistic  success  of  his  work;  while  at  the  same  time,  in 
every  detail,  he  preserved  his  own  independence  and 
individuality. 

It  is  true  that  the  author  of  The  Owl  employed  for 
the  presentation  of  his  matter  the  comparatively  well- 
known  form  of  the  debate:  but  when  we  say  that  he 
took  the  suggestion  for  the  form  of  his  poem  from  cur- 
rent literary  forms,  we  have  said  in  "suggestion" 
almost  all  there  is  to  be  said  definitely  in  the  matter  (cf. 
page  lxii).  —  It  is  true,  again,  that  the  common  and 
increasing  use  of  the  short  couplet  in  French  probably 
had  much  influence  on  the  choice  of  the  verse-form  of 
The  Owl  (cf.  page  lxvi)  :  yet  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  tetrapody  in  the  poem  (possibly  the  first  long 
poem  in  this  metre  in  English)  is  not  the  French  tetra- 
pody. From  the  latter  the  poet  derived  merely  the 
suggestion  of  the  regularity  and  uniformity  that  the  de- 
caying Anglo-Saxon  metre  had  needed.  He  rejected 
the  French  system  of  regulating  the  line  by  syllables, 
and  applied  to  his  work  the  Teutonic  law  of  accent  that 


^Introduction  xlix 

his  fathers  had  used  and  that  the  people  of  England 
loved  dearly  (cf.  page  lxv).  —  Further,  it  is  true  that 
the  influence  of  the  dialectics  of  the  schoolmen  and  the 
wandering  scholars  of  the  time,  is  seen  in  the  excellent 
logic,  the  admirably  sustained  arguments,  and  the  un- 
usual holding  to  the  point,  in  all  the  poem:  yet  this  is 
but  an  influence.  The  poet  profited  by  the  dialectical 
spirit  of  the  time  as  he  profited  by  the  experiments  in 
literary  and  verse  form  of  his  contemporaries.  His  poem 
is  not  an  exercise  in  dialectics,  nor  in  any  way  does  it 
approach  such.  It  is  literature,  whose  excellence  in 
form  depends,  indeed,  in  good  part  upon  the  influence 
that  the  author  had  derived  directly  or  indirectly  from 
the  logicians  of  his  own  and  former  times.  —  Finally, 
the  subject  of  the  poem  was  not  a  new  one.  The  old 
problem  that  arises  in  life  from  the  apparently  irrecon- 
cilable elements  duty  and  pleasure,  seriousness  and  joy- 
ousness,  had  been  pondered  and  discussed  infinitely 
before  the  13th  century.  But  the  poet  was  not  merely 
working  over  old  material.  He  was  thoroughly  in  touch 
with  the  England  of  his  day.  He  had  moved  among 
the  people,  had  shared  their  life,  and  was  imbued  with 
their  spirit.  He  had  lived  in  sympathy  with  Nature. 
What  from  these  sources  had  come  to  be  a  part  of  him- 
self, this  was  the  material  for  his  poem.  The  work 
grew  out  of  the  man.  While  the  poet  seems  to  have 
left  the  problem  unsolved,  we  have  seen  that  in  pre- 
senting it  he  gave  the  solution  as  far  as  it  could  be 
given.  That  solution  he  had  learned  from  the  people 
whom  he  so  fully  felt  with.  His  authorities  were  neither 
the  declarations  of  the  ecclesiastics  nor  the  conclusions  of 


i  31utrotJuctton 

the  schoolmen.  They  were  the  expressions  of  the  wis- 
dom and  judgment  of  the  people  which  in  process  of 
time  had  been  crystallized  into  proverbs,  some  of  native 
origin,  some  adapted  from  foreign  sources  to  express 
native  notions,  but  all  fathered  on  the  sage  King  Alfred, 
and  accepted  and  passing  from  mouth  to  mouth  at  the 
end  of  the  twelfth  century  and  the  beginning  of  the 
thirteenth  (cf.  Note  176),  as  a  peculiar  inheritance  of 
the  English  people. 

The  poet  stands  out  from  the  rest  of  the  writers  in 
English  of  his  day  because  of  his  individuality  and 
originality  in  the  respects  that  have  been  dwelt  on.  But 
he  is  still  more  notable  because  of  what,  in  contrast  with 
the  characteristics  of  the  work  of  his  contemporaries, 
may  be  called  the  distinctly  national  tone  and  spirit  of 
his  work,  the  tone  and  spirit  that  were  growing  out  of 
the  amalgamation  of  the  French  and  the  English,  and 
of  the  "  learned  "  and  the  "  popular  "  elements  in  the 
island.  From  the  French  and  the  Latin  came  directly 
or  indirectly  suggestion  for  the  form  of  the  poem,  and 
perhaps  suggestions  for  a  number  of  details  of  that 
form.  From  the  French  he  drew  hints  for  his  verse, 
or  he  was  influenced  by  the  regularity  of  French  verse. 
From  the  French  came  the  appreciation  for  the  lighter 
graces  and  pleasures  of  life,  and  the  sympathy  for 
that  which  would  appeal  to  the  aesthetic  sense,  which 
are  such  marked  features  of  the  theme  and  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  poem.  From  the  French  came  to  the 
poet  directly  or  indirectly  much  of  the  conception  of 
artistic  finish  that  he  so  fully  realized  in  his  work  :  and 


31ntroDuction  li 

as  from  the  French  nature  came  aptness  and  deftness, 
spontaneity,  spirited  dramatic  conception  and  effortless 
execution,  and  withal  very  much  of  that  arch  humor  that 
is  indeed  the  making  of  the  poem.1  From  the  English 
spirit  and  the  English  character  he  obtained  independence 
of  attitude;  a  demand  for  freedom  in  theory  and  in  prac- 
tice; naturalness  in  plan  and  in  effect;  a  sane  common- 
sense;  sound  ethics  and  right  morals;  a  dominant  seri- 
ousness; steadfastness  and  devotion  to  higher  purpose. 
From  the  learned  came  the  logical  attitude  that  made 
possible  the  sustained  unity  of  the  poem  in  whole  and 
in  details.  From  intellectual  training  in  schools  or  from 
contact  with  influence  from  the  schools,  came  the  clear- 
ness of  view,  and  the  sureness  and  precision  of  presenta- 
tion, that  for  the  date  are  so  extraordinarily  evident  in 
the  poem.  As  Ten  Brink  has  suggested,2  the  work  is 
everywhere  full  of  the  spirit  of  one  who  but  a  short 
time  before  may  have  been  a  strolling  clerk.  Such  a  clerk 
could  well  have  learned,  as  the  author  of  The  Owl  did 
learn,  from  the  people,  the  mingling  of  the  two  nations, 
those  who  had  wrung  the  Charter  from  John,  who  were 
making  and  to  make  England;  from  these  he  could  have 
learned  the  lesson  that  the  poet  had  to  teach,  the  phi- 

1  It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  however  much  the  poet  may  have  been 
acquainted  with  the  French,  the  national  pride  of  the  man  who  speaks  so 
contemptuously  of  Ireland,  Galway,  Scotland,  and  Norway  (11.  907  etseq., 
995-1030),  and  who  makes  not  one  allusion  to  France  or  the  French,  is 
shown  in  the  fact  that  he  uses  but  41  French  roots,  and  these  in  all  their 
forms  but  71  times.  The  list  follows  :  acorde,  afoled,  bataile,  beste,certes, 
crei,  clerc,  cundut,  cwesse,  dahet,  disputinge,  sputing,  fals,  fait,  faucun, 
flores,  foliot,  gelus,  ginne,  grant's,  graunti,  grucching,  ipeint,  ianunei, 
maister,  meoster,  merci,  ouerquatie,  pes,  pie,  pine,  plaid,  plait,  plaidi, 
pliading,  poure,  purs,  rente,  siuep,  sot,  sottes,  sothede,  spuse,  spusing, 
spusbruche,  spusingbendes,  stable,  sure,  schirme,  waste,  ? fitte,  iworre. 
Words  from  the  Latin  in  Anglo-Saxon,  are  of  course  not  included 

8  Cf.  note,  page  xxxvii. 


Hi  ifltttrotmctton 

losophy,  Life  for  God  and  for  Man.  In  accord  with 
the  true  spirit  of  the  people  already  manifesting  itself, 
the  author  would  be  a  good  servant  of  the  Church  in  the 
highest  sense:  but  he  would  throw  off  the  dominance 
of  ecclesiasticism,  and  would  judge  of  life  for  himself 
from  the  life  itself.  He  would  rest  upon  experience  of 
life  and  upon  the  judgment  of  the  common  people, 
rather  than  upon  mere  Church  doctrine.  He  would  live 
because  life  was  good;  and  he  would  serve  God  in 
thought  and  deed,  in  the  manner  that  sane  life  de- 
manded. 

The  qualities  that  have  been  indicated  —  independ- 
ence of  mind  and  of  attitude;  sympathy  with  the  lower 
forms  of  life  and  sympathy  with  man;  alertness  to  sug- 
gestion, and  capacity  and  readiness  to  utilize  and  adapt 
to  the  purpose  in  view;  reverence  for  the  deeper  truths 
of  existence;  realization  of  the  seriousness  of  human  life, 
of  its  duties  and  of  its  glorious  opportunities;  and,  with 
all  this,  appreciation  of  the  humor  that  runs  through  all 
mortal  affairs  high  and  low;  —  these  qualities,  which 
with  his  artistic  genius,  his  dramatic  imagination,  his 
true  ear,  and  his  accurate  insight  and  judgment  and 
taste  in  the  elements  of  poetic  effect,  make  the  author 
of  The  Ozvl  and  the  Nightingale  the  greatest  poet  of 
his  age  in  England — these  qualities  in  combination  are 
generally  accepted  as  notable  distinctive  characteristics 
of  purely  English  literature  since  the  actual  amalgamation 
of  the  French  and  the  English  in  Great  Britain. 


3|ntroDuetion  l"i 


IV.    The  Form. 

Among  the  best  known  and  most  widely  cultivated 
forms  in  the  great  literary  languages  of  Europe  in  the 
twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries,  is  that  of  the  Conten- 
tion Poem  —  a  class  of  poetry  that  in  the  Christian  era 
has  been  regarded  with  favor  and  practiced  with  vary- 
ing modifications  over  a  territory  extending  from  dis- 
tricts probably  more  eastern  than  Persia  to  as  far  west 
as  the  home  of  Mistress  Anne  Bradstreet,  and  during  a 
period  ranging  from  the  date  of  the  Psychomachia  l  of 
Prudentius  (born  348  a.  d.)  to  that  of  the  decline  of 
the  English  Masque,  or  in  "  popular"  form  to  even  a 
much  later  date.2  The  fundamental  characteristic  of  the 
Contention  Poem  is  indicated  in  the  name  :  the  work 
must  be  a  verbal  contest  for  supremacy,  between  two  or 
more  persons  or  personifications,  capable  or  regarded  as 
capable,  of  originating  and  carrying  on  a  dialogue.  Of 
this  class  of  poetry  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale  is 
the  earliest  extant  specimen,  and  in  many  respects  one 
of  the  most  notable  specimens,  in  English.  The  Kent- 
ish treatise  on  Vices  and  Virtues,*  in  which  a  soul  con- 
fesses its  sins  and  Reason  praises  the  Virtues,  may  be 
earlier  {c.  1200);  but,  as  is  true  of  the  Latin  and  later 
English  Body  and  Soul,  it  is  not  an  argument  for  su- 
premacy, but  a  dialogue. 

1  Ed.  A.  Dressel,  Leipzig,  i860;  Johannes  Bergmann,  Upsala,  1897. 

2  E.  g.  1856:  cf.  Bell's  Ballads  and  Songs  of  Peasantry  of  England,  pp. 
46,  49,  and  note.  On  the  Contention  Poem,  see  Knobloch,  Die  Streit- 
gedichte  im  Provenxalischcn  und  Altfranxosischen,  Breslau  Diss.  ;  Selbach, 
Das  Streitgedicht  in  der  Altprovenxalischen  Lirik,  Stengel's  Ausgaben  und 
Abhandlungen,  57;  Jeanroy,  La  Grande  Encjclopidit,  s.  v.  d'ebat ;  et  al. 

3  S.  E.  r.  S.  Pub.  lxxxix. 


liv  31ntroDuctton 

The  characteristics  of  the  form  of  The  Owl  may  be 
indicated  as  follows: 

(i)  It  is  an  epical  or  narrative  poem  in  its  larger 
plan.  It  has  a  narrative  introduction,  narrative  transitions 
(with,  sometimes,  didactic  comments  growing  out  of 
the  debate),  and  a  narrative  conclusion. 

(2)  The  debate  or  contention  proper  is  dramatic, 
narrative  transitions  (at  times  descriptive  in  character) 
or  sometimes  limited  didactic  comment,  usually  inter- 
vening between  alternate  speeches. 

(3)  The  debate  is  a  feigned  contest :  the  poet  in- 
vents it. 

(4)  The  contention  proper  is  between  two  contest- 
ants; but  at  the  end  a  number  of  additional  actors  and 
one  speaker  are  added. 

(5)  The  contestants  are  not  human,  but  birds,  i.  e. 
lower  animals  humanized. 

(6)  The  debate  arises  from  personalities  :  there  is 
no  proposing  of  a  debatable  question.  The  nightin- 
gale opens  the  contest  by  abusing  the  owl.  At  dusk 
the  owl  replies,  and  the  debate  follows. 

(7)  The  debate  is  concerning  personal  matters,  (a) 
the  appearance  and  habits  of  life  of  the  two  birds;  the 
relative  merit  of  their  song,  the  relative  worth  of  their 
motives ;  (b)  the  relative  value  to  man  of  their  song, 
their  personal  appearance,  their  manners  and  habits. 
Rarely  creeps  in  matter  (as  in  the  discussion  of  the 
matter  of  Love)  that  but  indirectly  concerns  either  bird. 

(8)  As  the  topics  of  debate  are  personal,  the  argu- 
ments naturally  are  bitter  and  often  abusive. 

(9)  Each  of  the  contestants  usually  meets  the  de- 


introduction  vii 

clarations  of  her  opponent  by  counter  argument,  and 
then  advances  added  assertion  or  argument. 

(10)  The  arguments  are  frequently  supported  by 
citation  of  familiar  popular  proverbs,  directly  or  by 
implication  assigned  to  King  Alfred. 

( 1 1 )  After  the  first  few  speeches,  which  consist  of 
abuse  and  threats,  a  judge  is  chosen  to  preside  over  a 
more  reasonable  exposition  of  the  merits  and  demerits 
of  the  birds. 

(12)  Through  eagerness  the  contestants  exhaust  then- 
abuse  and  arguments  immediately  after  the  judge  is 
chosen  and  before  they  can  betake  themselves  into  his 
presence.  Through  the  advice  of  the  wren,  the  debate 
concludes  with  a  decision  to  report  the  matter  of  the 
speeches  to  the  judge,  and  to  abide  by  his  decree. 

(13)  The  judge  does  not  appear  as  present  at  the 
dispute,  nor  is  his  decision  given.  The  birds  fly  off" 
to  present  their  arguments  to  him.  That  is  all  the 
reader  learns  of  the  debate,  and  the  poet  states  that  he 
knows  no  more. 

(14)  A  specific  person  is  designated  as  judge  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  his  name  was 
introduced  for  the  purpose  of  complimenting  a  friend. 

(15)  The  use  of  popular  proverbs  (always  those  of 
sane  and  healthful  tenor);  the  motives  that  the  birds 
claim  as  inspiring  their  activity;  the  motives,  attitudes, 
actions,  habits,  that  they  support  or  blame  in  their 
main  arguments  or  in  incidental  illustrations  and  issues 
by  the  way;  and  the  character  of  the  few  comments 
that  the  author  introduces  with  rare  tact ;  all  these  give 
the  poem  didactic  force,  and  indicate  that  under  all  was 


liv  i  31ntrot)uction 

a  more  or  less  direct  purpose  on  the  part  of  the  author 
to  inculcate  a  broad  teaching  of  honesty,  fidelity,  purity, 
temperance,  and  wisdom. 

(16)  The  author  refers  to  the  debate  with  the  words 
plaid,  plait,  plaiding.  These  words  always  apply  to  the 
contention  of  the  birds,  and  not  to  the  poem  as  a 
whole.  The  scribe  of  the  Jesus  MS.  styles  the  poem 
a  Iter  each. 

(17)  The  poem  is  in  short  couplets. 

A  detailed  presentation  of  the  characterisdes  of  the 
contention  poems  in  Provencal,  Latin,  and  Old  French, 
in  comparison  with  the  characteristics  of  The  Owl,  can- 
not be  made  here.  A  very  careful  study  and  com- 
parison of  practically  all  the  extant  contention  poems 
earlier  than  the  fourteenth  century  in  the  three  lan- 
guages mentioned,  justifies  the  statements  that  follow. 

1.  From  the  Provencal  tenson  could  come  only 
(6),  (7),  and  after  1  175  (8);  from  the  partimen,  (9), 
(10),  (13),  (14)5  fr°m  tne  generic  term  covering 
partimen  and  tenson,  plag  or  plait  (16). 

From  the  feigned  tenson  (a  contention  poem  after 
1 1 90  by  one  author,  the  contest  imagined,  and  some- 
times one  or  both  of  the  contestants  really  incapable  of 
debate)  such  as  I.  Raimbaut  de  Vaqueiras'  Domna  tan 
vos  aipregada  ;  II.  Guillem  de  St.  Disdier's  U  una  don, 
etc.;  III.  Pierol's  Quant  amors,  etc.;  IV.  the  Monk 
of  Montaudon's  V  auirier  fui,  etc.,  V.  his  poems  on 
the  use  of  rouge,  and  VI.  his  Manens  e  friar  is  ;  VII. 
Rostang's  Bel  segner  deus,  etc.;  VIII.  DaspoPs  Sein- 
jos  aujas,  etc.;    IX.  the  Count  of  Provence's  Cam  e 


jflntrotmctton  lvii 

Ongla,  etc.;  X.  Bertran  CarbonePs  Ronciy  cen  ves, 
etc.,  and  XI.  Si  anc  null  terns ,  etc.;  XII.  Gui  de 
Cavaillo's  Mantel  vil,  etc.;  XIII.  Raimon  Escrivan's 
Cata  e  Trabuquet  ;  —  from  this  class  could  come  ( I ) 
and  (2),  at  times  narrative  introduction  and  slight  con- 
nections, at  times  also  slight  narrative  conclusion  ;  (3); 
(5),  at  times  one  feigned  character  is  a  lower  animal, 
or  is  inanimate  or  abstract  or  God,  and  once  (in  XIII.) 
there  are  two  inanimate  objects  ;  (7),  at  times  and 
limited  ;  (8),  at  times  and  limited  ;  (9),  slight ;  (n), 
choice  of  judge,  rare  and  limited;  (13),  judge  does 
not  appear,  several  cases  ;  (14),  rare  and  slight  ;  (15), 
little  outside  of  the  Monk  ;  (16),  at  times,  rare.  The 
class,  but  not  any  one  poem,  affords  all  these  character- 
istics. Some  of  the  poems  mentioned  are  too  late  to 
have  influenced  The  Owl,  but  suggest  possible  similar 
earlier  poems.  It  is  in  VI.  between  the  Rich  Man 
and  the  Friar,  and  in  XIII.  between  two  war-machines, 
both  probably  results  of  the  earlier  Latin  poems,  that 
one  finds  the  full  narrative  atmosphere  and  the  closest 
approach  to  the  general  form  of  The  Owl. 

2.  The  Latin  poems  individually  and  as  a  class  have 
more  of  the  characteristics  of  The  Owl,  and  more  close 
similarity  of  characteristics.  Those  of  the  Psychomachia 
type  (general  combats)  can  have  had  little  or  no  direct 
influence  on  The  Owly  though  they  did  undoubtedly 
stimulate  the  general  use  of  abstract  or  allegorical 
personages  and  the  practice  of  writing  contentions. 
The  duel  poems,  such  as  I.  Conflictus  Veris  et  Hiemis, 
II.  Dialogus  inter  Corpus  et  Animamy  III.  Disputatio 
inter  Cor  et  Oculum,  IV.  Goliae  Dialogus  inter  Aquam 


lviii  iflntroUuction 

et  Vinum,  V.  the  fragment  De  Conflict!*  Vini  et  Aguae,1 
VI.  Conflictus  Ovis  et  Lint,  VII.  De  Clarevallensibus 
et  Cluniencensibus,  VIII.  Z)<?  Mauro  et  Zoilo,  IX.  Z>* 
Presbytero  et  Logico,  X.  Z)<?  Phillide  et  Flora,  XI.  Tfo 
Council  of  Love,2  have  (3)  ;  (15)  satiric  or  didactic; 
regularly  (1),  (2),  slight  transitions,  little  comment; 
(4),  in  I.,  IV.  burst  of  song  honors  victor,  in  I.,  II., 
IV.,  IX.,  X.  additional  actors  at  end  ;  (5),  parties  not 
human  in  I.-VI.;  (6),  in  II.-IX.;  (7),  in  IV.-IX., 
personal  responsibility  in  II.— III. ;  (8),  in  V.— IX., 
limited  in  II. -III.,  moderate  in  IV.;  (9),  slight  in  I., 
VIII.,  not  in  V.,  much  in  rest ;  (10),  few  learned  allu- 
sions in  VII. -IX.,  few  Bible  references  in  IV.,  VI., 
VIII.,  IX.;  (11),  (I2)»  judge  appears  without 
choice  in  III.,  God  in  IV.,  in  VII.  the  poet  is  chosen, 
in  VIII.  no  judge  yet  poet  is  present,  in  IX.  a  con- 
gregation is  chosen,  in  XI.  a  Queen  of  Love  presides 
and  judges,  in  VI.  choice  of  judge  early  discussed,  for- 
gotten in  debate,  and  taken  up  toward  end  (cp.  (12)) 
without  choice,  in  X.  Love  is  chosen  and  the  matter 
is  taken  to  him  (cp.  (13))  and  decided;  decision  is 
given  in  III.,  VII.,  X.,  XI.  The  poems  extend  from 
55  to  770  lines,  more  close  to  The  Owl  than  the  quite 
short  Provencal  poems. 

3 .  But  little  influence  on  The  Owl,  except  as  possible 
transmitters  from  the  Provencal,  can  be  supposed  for 
the  North  French  tenson  (little  cultivated,  and  except 
in  its  mild  character  a  reflex  of  the  Provencal)  or  the 
jeu-parti  (a  reflex  of  the  partimen  and  very  popular 

1  Schmeller,  Carmina  Burana,  no.  171,  p.  132,  Stuttgart,  1847. 
*  Haupt's  Ztittchrifty  vii. 


^Introduction  lix 

after  1250),  or  the  few  feigned  tensons  with  or  with- 
out '  narrative  introduction.  What  has  been  said  of  the 
Psychomachia  and  the  kindred  Latin  poems,  applies  to 
such  poems- dealing  with  general  combats  as  Desputoison 
du  Vin  et  de  Plane,  Tournoiement  d' Antecrist,  La 
Bataille  des  Vins>  La  Bataille  de  Karesme  et  de  Char- 
nag ey  La  Bataille  des  VII.  Arsy  Le  Mariage  des  Sept 
Ars  et  des  Sept  Vertus>  Le  Mariage  des  Sept  Arsy  La 
Bataille  d'  Enfer  et  de  Paradis,  etc. 

It  is  rather  to  narrative  poems  more  or  less  imitative 
of  the  Latin  poems,  such  as  I.  De  P  Tver  et  de  P  Este, 
II.  De  Conflictu  Corporis  et  Animae,  III.  Florance  et 
Blanche  Flor,  with  the  companion  piece  on  the  same 
theme  IV.  Hueline  et  Eglantine,  V.  La  Desputoison 
de  la  Sinagogue  et  de  Sainte  Eglise,  etc.,  that  one  must 
look  for  much  likelihood  of  suggestion  from  the  French 
here  for  the  form  of  The  Owl.  In  the  poems  noted 
one  finds  (1),  (2),  slight  transitions,  little  comment; 
(3);  (4),  additional  actors  and  speakers  at  end  in  III., 
IV.;  (5),  abstractions  in  I.,  II.,  V.;  (6),  personali- 
ties in  I.,  II.,  V.;  (7),  in  V.,  personal  acts  in  II., 
(7  b)  in  I. ;  (8),  in  II.,  V.,  slight  in  I. ;  (9),  in  II.,  V., 
slight  in  rest;  (10),  Bible  references  slight  in  II.,  V. ; 
(1 1),  (12),  (13),  in  I.  at  end  reader  is  bidden  judge, 
in  III.,  IV.  Love  is  chosen,  parties  go  and  present 
case,  decision  by  combat  of  champions;  (1  5),  in  II.,  V. ; 
(17),  in  III.,  IV.,  Winter's  speeches  in  I.  It  seems 
probable  that  most  of  these  poems  are  of  a  date  later 

1  Cf.  Hist.  Litt.  de  la  France,  xxiii.  791  ;  Herrig's  Archiv,  xlii.  293; 
Knobloch,  p.  55}  Jeanroy,  Orig.  de  la  Poisie  Ljrique  en  France,  pt.  i. 
ch.  ii. 


lx  3]ittroDuetton 

than  that  assigned  to  The  Ozvl  in  this  edition.  They 
may  point,  however,  to  possible  similar  earlier  poems. 
Another  class  of  poems,  perhaps  dependent  some- 
what on  Latin  originals,  but  of  a  quite  independent  air, 
and  in  that  and  in  their  simplicity  of  situation  and  ele- 
ments, and  in  their  element  of  personality  in  the  per- 
sonages, suggesting  more  The  Qzvl>  are  such  poems  as 
I.  Du  Denier  et  de  la  Brebis,  II.  Le  Desputoison  de 
Chariot  et  Du  Bar  bier,  III.  Marguet  Convertiey  IV.  Du 
Plait  Renart  de  Dammartin  contre  Vairon  son  Roncin. 
In  these  poems  are  (i),  (2),  conclusion  and  slight  con- 
nections in  only  I.;  (3);  (5),  animate  and  inanimate  in 
I.,  man  and  horse  in  IV.;  (6)  ;  (7),  in  I.,  (7  a)  in 
rest;  (8),  in  II.,  III.;  (9),  in  I.,  IV.;  (11),  author 
early  is  chosen  and  decides  at  end  in  II.;  (15),  in  I., 
III.;  (16),  in  title  of  IV. ;  (17),  in  I.  In  each  of  the 
MSS.  of  The  Ozvl  is  a  copy  of  Chardry's  Le  Petit  Plet x 
(16),  in  890  short  couplets  (17).  The  poem  has  (1), 
(2),  introduction  and  slight  connections;  (3);  (9),  only 
in  11.  90-262;  (10),  Distichs  of  Cato  once  mentioned 
and  alluded  to  a  number  of  times  ;  (15);  (16);  (17). 
The  similarities  to  The  Owl  in  these  poems,  and  in  the 
last  poem,  are  actually  slight ;  and  those  of  Le  Petit 
Plet  are  in  number  or  extent  or  use  not  greater  than 
those  noted  in  several  of  the  Latin  poems;  but  the  im- 
pressions stated  at  the  first  of  this  paragraph,  and  the 
existence  in  England  of  this  French  Plet  of  this  length 
in  couplets  with  these  elements  very  early  in  the  thir- 
teenth century,2  along  with  the   later  shorter  poems 

1  Koch,  Chardr/i  Josaphax,  etc.,  Heilbronn,  1879. 

*  Koch  as»igns  it  to  the  opening  of  the  century  :  of.  cit.,  pp.  xlvi-xlni. 


31ntrot)uction  ixi 

noted  above,  suggest  the  possibility  of  French  poems  of 
an  early  period  with  closer  resemblances  to  The  Owl. 

However  all  this  may  be,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
no  French  or  Latin  or  Provencal  original  of  The  Owl 
has  been  discovered,  and  that  in  none  of  these  tongues 
has  yet  been  found  a  single  poem  that  embodies  all  the 
elements  of  the  form  of  The  Owl  or  uses  many  of  the 
elements  embodied  in  the  manner  or  to  the  extent  ex- 
hibited in  The  Owl.  All  the  elements  but  ( 1 4)  found  in 
the  Provencal  are  found  in  a  more  marked  degree  in  the 
French  and  the  Latin  poems,  and  (14)  was  taken  over 
into  the  French  with  the  jeu-parti.  It  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  (14)  is  dependent  upon  a  theory  concern- 
ing the  authorship  of  the  poem,  and  that  even  if  the 
theory  is  correct,  it  is  not  necessary  to  suppose  that  the 
poet  could  not  himself  adapt  to  this  purpose  the  com- 
mon element  of  the  choosing  of  judge.  In  the  French 
poems  there  are  more  similarities  to  the  form  of  The 
Owly  and  these  increase  in  closeness  and  number  as  the 
form  of  the  poems  approaches  that  of  the  Latin  duels. 
The  French,  however,  contains  at  times  (14),  (16), 
and  (17),  which  the  Latin  has  not,  (16)  and  (17)  not 
occurring  in  a  poem  or  class  of  poem  with  (14).  It 
must  be  noted  that  an  actual  contest  for  supremacy  is  in 
every  true  partimen,  tenson,  and.  jeu-parti  in  Provencal 
or  French,  and  that  often  in  the  Latin  and  French  from 
Latin  poems  this  yields  place  to  mere  dialogue. 

One  may  decide  that  a  French  poem  with  all  or  most 
of  the  general  characteristics  of  The  Owl,  may  have 
afforded  the  poet  his  model,  or  a  Latin  poem  with  all  or 
almost  all  but  (14),  (16),  (17),  may  have  been  the 


ixii  ^Introduction 

prototype.  No  such  poem  is  now  extant.  It  is  improb- 
able that  the  poet  of  The  Owl  took  all  the  characteristics 
of  his  poem  from  any  one  source.  It  is  not  at  all  im- 
probable, moreover,  that  some  of  the  elements  or  uses 
of  elements  were  original  with  the  poet ;  that  he  had  not 
met  with  them  at  all  in  reading  or  by  hearing,  though 
he  could  perhaps  have  met  with  them  if  his  reading  had 
been  wide  enough.  Many  of  the  characteristics  are 
such  as  would  easily  occur  to  a  clever  man  who  sat 
down  to  compose  a  debate  between  the  two  birds  (two 
lower  animals  as  parties  in  a  contention  apparently  oc- 
curring first  in  The  Owl,  be  it  noted).  Further,  it 
must  be  emphasized  that  what  have  been  noted  as  simi- 
larities of  characteristics  between  the  French  or  the 
Latin  or  the  Provencal  poems  and  The  Owl,  are  usually 
similarities  in  bare  fact  of  the  characteristic.  Again, 
(a  matter  that  only  a  careful  reading  of  each  poem  can 
show  to  the  student  of  the  question)  in  most  of  the 
cases  the  embodiment  or  use  of  the  characteristic  is  in  no 
way  similar  to  the  embodiment  or  use  in  The  Owl; 
and  very  commonly  the  prominence  or  extent  of  influ- 
ence of  the  characteristic  is  quite  unlike  the  prominence 
or  extent  in  The  Owl.  Hence  one  may  say  that  very 
often  the  "similarities"  are  really  not  such  at  all. 

In  the  extant  Provencal,  Latin,  and  French,  up  to  the 
middle  of  the  thirteenth  century  never  more  than  one 
of  the  two  contestants  is  bird  or  beast.1  Yet  not  only 
the  two  principals,  but  also  all  the  actors  in  The  Owl, 
and  as  well  many  of  the  persons  in  the  illustrations  and 

1  The  champions  of  the  ladies  in  Floranct  et  Blanche  Flor  are  birds. 


^Introduction  lxiii 

by-incidents,  are  lower  animals.  In  the  poem  the  allu- 
sion (1.  1050  and  note)  to  a  story  of  a  nightingale 
mentioned  by  Neckam  in  his  De  Naturis  Rerum  and 
by  Marie  de  France  in  her  Lai  de  Lausticy  and  the 
outline  of  the  well-known  fable  of  the  Fox  and  the  Cat 
(1.  809),  call  attention  to  the  popularity  of  stories, 
and  of  descriptions  of  the  characteristics  and  properties 
(real  and  assumed),  of  animals  in  England  and  France 
during  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries. 

Of  the  1 2th  century  is  Philippe  de  Thaon's  Anglo- 
Norman  Physio Iogus  ;  of  the  13  th  are  Guillaume  le 
Clerc's  Bestiare  Divin,  Richard  de  FourmvaY  s  Bestiare 
a"  Amour,  and  the  English  Bestiary.  The  last  is  based 
mostly  on  Theobaldus'  popular  Latin  Physiologus  found 
in  MS.  Harl.  3093,  which  afforded  material  also  for 
Neckam's  12th  century  De  Naturis  Rerum,  a  work 
very  popular  in  all  tke  13th  century  (cf.  Note  1050). 
In  themselves  and  in  their  transfer  of  matter,  these 
works  and  many  others  of  less  note,  with  their  origi- 
nals, afforded  acceptable  material  for  thought  to  the 
English.  —  After  a  careful  survey  and  study  of  the  field, 
Mr.  Jacobs  has  had  no  hesitation  in  declaring  that  Eng- 
land was  "  certainly  the  home  of  the  Fable  during  that 
period  [latter  half  of  the  twelfth  century] ,  and  that  it 
is  therefore  probable  that  some  at  least  of  the  French 
Tsapets  were  composed"  there.1  With  Herr  Mall2 
he  locates  the  most  influential  collections  in  England. 
That  the  Fable  was  particularly  acceptable  to  the  Eng- 
lish and  in  current  use  among  them,  is  shown  outside 

1   The  Fables  of  SEsop,  as   First  Printed  bj  Caxton,  David  Nutt,  1889, 
i.,  p.  182. 

?  Zeitschrift  fur  Rom.  Phil.,ix.  161-203. 


Ixiv  ^Introduction 

of  the  many  collections  by  its  employment  on  a  number 
of  public  occasions,  but  is  indicated  especially  by  the 
common  occurrence  of  it  in  the  ecclesiastical  and  secu- 
lar works  of  the  day,  in  sermons,  and  in  collections  of 
exempla  and  of  anecdotes. 

It  is  probably  to  these  popular  sources,  the  Fable, 
the  Bestiary  or  Physiologus,  and  works  such  as  Neckam's 
De  Naturis  Rerum,  that  is  to  be  traced  the  influence 
that  ultimately  led  to  the  use  of  animals  as  actors  in 
The  Owl  and  in  such  later  animal  poems  (e.  g.  The 
Thrush  and  the  Nightingale  and  The  Fox  and  the 
Wolf,1  Clanvowe's  Cuckow  and  Nightingale,  Dunbar's 
The  Merle  and  the  Nightingale,  Henryson'  s  The  Lion 
and  the  Mouse,  etc.)  as  were  produced  in  England  in 
the  thirteenth  and  the  following  centuries. 

V.    The  Versification. 

The  author  of  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale  chose 
for  the  conveyance  of  his  matter  the  short  rhymed 
couplet.  For  several  centuries  octosyllabic  verse,  de- 
veloped from  the  Latin  acatalectic  tetrameter,  had  been 
used  in  short  strophes  by  the  jongleurs  ;  and  now  for  a 
hundred  years  it  had  been  growing  rapidly  into  favor 
among  the  French  and  Anglo-Norman  poets.  It  had 
been  used  in  the  rhymed  couplet  by  Philippe  de  Thaon 
in  his  Bestiare,  by  Beneoit  de  St.  More,  Gaimar,  and 
Wace,  in  their  chronicles  ;  and,  partly  because  of  its 
use  by  Cresrien  de  Troves,  it  had  become  a  prevailing 
metre  for  the  court  romance.    The  short  "  popular" 

1  Hazlitt,  Remains  tf  tht  Early  Papular  Pottrj  of  England,  i.  50,  58. 


3|ntroDuctton  lxv 

tales,  fabliaux,  lais,  dits,  and  (of  special  import  here) 
the  d'ebat  or  desputoison  or  estrif,  all  now  just  beginning 
to  flourish,  were  adopting  the  octosyllabic  couplet  as 
their  favorite  form.  It  has  been  indicated  already  (cf. 
page  lx)  that  each  of  the  MSS.  in  which  The  Owl  is 
found,  contains  Le  Petit  Plet,  a  debat  in  this  measure. 
It  is  not  strange,  then,  that  in  the  midst  of  the  rising 
school  of  poets  in  the  South  who  were  all  drawing  their 
inspiration  from  French  models,  the  author  of  The  Owl 
chose  for  his  poem  a  metrical  form  very  similar  to  that 
coming  into  vogue  for  the  contention  poem  in  French. 
The  choice  seems  less  strange  when  we  observe  that 
the  "  popular  "  poetry,  the  poetry  of  the  people  which 
the  author  knew  so  well  and  cherished  so  fondly  —  this 
was  losing  the  form  that  it  had  inherited  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon,  and  was  being  so  modified  by  the  influence  of 
French  verse,  that  it  was  approaching  closely  the  tetra- 
pody.  A  glance  at  a  few  pages  of  La^amom's  Brut, 
written  but  a  few  years  before  The  Owl,  shows  (i)  the 
creeping  in  of  rhyme  at  the  ends  of  the  two  staves  of 
the  verse;  (2)  frequent  neglect  of  alliteration,  the  great 
characteristic  of  Anglo-Saxon  verse;  and  (3)  expansion 
of  the  stave  to  three  accents,  and  again  to  four  accents. 
What  is  true  here  of  the  Brut  is  true  of  that  expression 
of  the  '  *  popular  ' '  wisdom,  which  the  author  of  The 
Owl  made  the  basis  of  his  arguments  and  teachings,  the 
verse  that  was  passing  from  mouth  to  mouth  through 
each  day,  the  Proverbs  of  Alfred  (cf.  Note  176).  The 
poet  could  have  observed  that  when  in  the  "  popular  " 
poetry  all  three  of  the  modifications  noted  occurred  in 
one  verse  of  two  staves,  or  even  when  but  the  first  and 


ixvi  3lmrotmction 

second  in  two  successive  verses,  there  often  resulted  a 
line  very  similar  to  that  used  in  the  French  octosyllabic 
couplet. 

Though  the  poet  was  strongly  influenced  by  the 
French  metre,  he  in  no  way  slavishly  imitated  it  as 
many  of  his  successors  in  English  verse  were  to  do.  As 
his  mind  was  stored  with  the  treasures  of  the  H  popu- 
lar" poetry,  his  ears  were  filled  with  its  rhythm.  From 
the  French  short  couplet,  which  demanded  that  the 
verse  be  of  eight  syllables  with  masculine  rhyme,  or  of 
nine  syllables  with  feminine  rhyme,  he  obtained  regu- 
larity and  smoothness  of  rhythmical  movement.  From 
the  English  he  adopted  the  Germanic  law  of  accent,  in 
accordance  with  which  the  verse  is  measured  by  the 
number  of  accents,  without  regard  to  the  number  of  the 
unaccented  syllables.  Thus  he  allowed  himself  freedom 
to  beautify  and  vary  the  rhythm  of  his  lines  by  means 
of  double  anacrusis,  the  dactyl  or  anapaest,  syncopation, 
and  omission  of  anacrusis.  Before  this  time,  as  far  as 
we  know,  only  the  writer  of  the  Pater  Nostery  with 
also,  perhaps,  the  author  of  the  Eleven  Pains  of  Hell 'in 
the  Jesus  MS.,  had  attempted  what  was  accomplished 
in  The  Owl.  With  wonderful  skill  and  taste,  con- 
sciously or  unconsciously  the  poet  fitted  the  two  systems 
together.  His  words  retain  their  natural  accent,  and 
the  verse  is  measured  by  this  accent.  Yet  while  he  gave 
himself  freedom  to  vary  the  rhythm  of  the  lines  where 
he  would  by  the  introduction  or  omission  of  unaccented 
syllables,  the  number  of  syllables  in  his  line  or  the  time 
taken  in  pronouncing  them,  satisfies  almost  invariably 
the  ends  of  smoothness  and  regularity  sought  in  the 


3|ntroDuction  ixvii 

French  versification.  In  the  earliest  extant  long  English 
poem  written  in  the  short  couplet,  the  poet  developed 
in  this  measure  a  beauty  of  rhythmical  movement  and 
of  metrical  form  that  was  unequalled  until  Chaucer 
perfected  Middle  English  verse. 

Prosody:  On  Elision  and  Hiatus ,  cf.  Notes  6,  14, 
21,  121,  161,  668,  705,  1 1 76. — On  Contraction, 
cf.  Note  310.  Elision  of  -e  in  ne  is  marked  by  con- 
traction. —  On  Slurring,  cf.  Note  5  2 ;  also  Note  2 1 . 
—  On  Syncope  and  Apocope ,  cf.  Note  21. 

Accent  and  Stress:1  (1)  In  a  polysyllable  accent 
and  stress  fall  on  the  root  syllable. 

(2)  In  words  compounded  of  subst.  and  subst.,  or 
adj.  and  subst.,  or  what  were  originally  two  nouns,  the 
main  accent  and  the  stress  fall  on  the  first  member.  — 
In  noun  composition  the  particles  aly  ge  (/',  y),  for, 
un,  mis,  and  generally  bi,  do  not  bear  accent  or  stress. 
bi  is  accented  in  bisemere,  bisemar. 

(3)  In  verb  composition  initial  particles  are  not  ac- 
cented: e.  g.  totoruefi,  abiden,  anhop. 

(4)  Inflectional  final  syllables  of  polysyllabic  words, 
do  not  bear  accent  or  stress. 

(5)  Trisyllabic  words  made  up  of  (a)  a  dissyllabic 
noun  plus  a  monosyllabic  noun  (e.  g.  stareblind,  stor- 
rezvis),  (b)  an  unaccented  particle  plus  a  dissyllabic 
verb  (e.  g.  abiten,  bichermet,  itoyeri),  (c)  a  dissyllabic 
particle  plus  a  monosyllable  (e.  g.  ouergan,  understood), 
or  (d)  a  dissyllabic  word  plus  a  derivative  syllable,  or 

1  All  statements  made  under  Versification  and  the  Notes  are  extracted 
from  an  exhaustive  study  of  every  verse  of  C  and  J,  and  a  careful  tabula- 
tion of  results  in  connection  with  each  point  discussed. 


lxviii  ^Introduction 

three  monosyllables  (e.  g.  chatering  576,  euening  772, 
nofieles  747),  cannot  have  their  accentuation  changed 
for  rhythm.1  In  (a)  (c)  (d)  the  primary  accent  falls  on 
the  first  syllable,  and  a  secondary  accent  on  the  third, 
with  stress  on  both  syllables.  In  (b)  the  word  accent 
and  the  stress  fall  on  the  second  syllable. 

(  6  )  On  accentuation  of  derivative  suffixes,  cf.  Notes 
40,  311. 

(  7  )  On  double  accentuation  and  stress  of  dissyllables, 
cf.  Note  311. 

(  8 )  On  shift  of  accent  in  dissyllables  and  in  trisyl- 
lables, cf.  Note  311. 

(9)  In  four-syllabled  words,  (a)  consisting  of  dis- 
syllable plus  monosyllable  plus  inflectional  ending,  or  of 
dissyllable  plus  derivative  ending  plus  inflectional  end- 
ing (e.  g.  oferhohe'd,  under  stande,  galegale,  boldeliche, 
chateringe);  or  (b)  where  a  determining  prefix  pre- 
cedes an  unaccented  prefix  of  a  trisyllabic  word  (e.  g. 
unihoded,  unisome,  unisele),  the  first  and  third  syllables 
will  bear  stress,  and  respectively  primary  and  secondary 
accent. 

(10)  The  following  French  derivatives  are  accented 
as  marked:  canunes  729,  meoster  924,  merci  1092, 
Henri  1091;  perhaps  bataile  1 1 97,  dahet  99,  11 69, 
1561,  folio't  S6$. 

Metre  :  On  the  Normal  Line  with  and  without 
initial  light  syllable  ;  and  with  and  without  trochaic 
initial  foot;  cf.  Note  5. —  On  Anacrusis,  cf.  Note 
359. —  On  two  or  more  unstressed  syllables  between  two 
stresses,  cf.  Note  21. —  On  Clash  of  Stresses,  cf.  Notes 
no,  311  ;   also  Note  129. 

1  necpelti  1710,  may  be  an  exception. 


^Introduction  lxix 

Rhyme  :  The  author  of  The  Owl  used  (a)  end- 
rhyme,  (b)  middle  rhyme,  and  (c)  to  a  slight  degree 
initial  rhyme  or  alliteration. 

(a)  On  the  Couplet  and  the  Quatrain  on  one  rhyme, 
cf.  Note  i.  —  On  Masculine  and  Feminine  rhyme, 
cf.  Note  I. —  On  "Perfect"  rhyme,  cf.  Note  29. 
—  On  Irregular  rhymes,  cf.  Note  63-64. — On 
**  Gliding"  rhyme,  cf.  Note  63-64. 

(b)  On  Assonance,  cf.  Note  37. 

(  c  )  Alliteration  is  merely  decorative,  and  is  not  used 
to  mark  organic  structure.  Much  that  appears  in  the 
poem  is  probably  accidental.  Triple  alliteration  in  a 
kind  of  kenning  occurs  in  5,  1 450,  1466  ;  double  alliter- 
ation thus,  in  217,266,  269,  524,  629,655,  1 1 76, 
1407.  Irregular  alliteration  is  very  common  :  e.  g. 
double,  384,  386,  387,  408,  412,  476,  484,  485, 
645,  671,  709,  710,  etc.;  triple,  75,  94,  234,  395, 
543,  594,  597,  etc.;  quadruple,  147,  518,  1656, 
1670.  spy  st,  scy  s,  if  they  are  regarded  as  alliterating, 
alliterate  with  each  other  and  with  themselves,  contrary 
to  Anglo-Saxon  usage  :  e.  g.  25,  495,  960,  1656  ; 
18,  39,  79,  163,  282;  etc.  At  times  alliteration 
runs  over  two  verses:  e.  g.  5,  141,  1205;  1411, 
1791  ;  25,  145,  293,  1025,  1467;  341,  379,  631, 
1451. 


C^e  Otol  ana  tye  jEKgftttaple 


THE   TEXT 

The  readings  of  the  MSS.  are  based  on  the  following  :  colla- 
tion of  typed  sheets  of  Wright's  text  with  MS.  Cott.  by  Mr.  J.  P. 
Gilson  of  the  British  Museum,  and  with  MS.  Jes.  Coll.  by  Mrs. 
A.  F.  P.  New  of  Oxford  ;  re-examination  of  both  MSS.  at  doubtful 
places  ;  copy  of  MS.  Cott.  by  Mr.  Gilson,  and  photographs  of  MS. 
Jes.  Coll.  5  re-examination  of  doubtful  places  by  Mr.  Gilson  ;  col- 
lation of  final  text  for  MS.  Cott.  with  MS.  by  Prof.  Padelford. 
The  MSS.  are  printed  as  much  in  facsimile  as  possible.  Wher- 
ever a  reading  makes  sense,  it  has  been  left  unchanged.  All  vari- 
ations from  the  MSS.  are  noted  at  foot  of  page.  Abbreviated 
letters  are  italicised.  Punctuation  and  capitalization  are  the  editor's 
(exc.  in  C  paragraph  initials  and  J  in  L  35  ;  and  in  J  paragraph 
initials,  first  letters  of  lines,  and  N  in  11.  191,  1746,  1778,  M 
1778).  Word  divisions  of  the  MSS.  are  observed  with  the  fol- 
lowing rules  :  All  separated  compounds  are  hyphenated  j  all  pre- 
fixes and  roots  when  separated  are  hyphenated  ;  all  compounds  or 
original  compounds,  wrongly  divided,  are  printed  in  brackets  with 
the  MS.  forms  at  foot  of  page  ;  two  words  written  as  one  in  the 
MS.  are  separated  in  brackets  in  the  text,  with  the  MS.  form  at 
foot  of  page  ;  all  not  compounded  words  divided  by  the  scribe,  are 
printed  as  units  in  brackets  with  the  MS.  forms  at  foot  of  page,  if 
as  units  or  as  divided  they  may  be  confused  with  other  words  ; 
when  the  confusion  just  noted  will  not  occur  with  words  such  as 
those  just  referred  to,  the  words  are  printed  as  units,  e.  g.  C  173 
pi  ne,  C  175  mi  ne,  C  209  que  me,  C  699-700  al  re,  C  1 294  hi 
re,  where  the  separation  is  due  merely  to  the  lifting  of  the  pen. 
Where  corrections  are  found  in  the  MSS.,  in  the  text  the  earliest 
written  form  is  adopted  ;  where  the  earliest  written  form  does  not 
make  sense,  the  MS.  correction  (if  good)  is  adopted  in  brackets 
with  a  footnote  ;  where  in  the  latter  case  the  correction  seems  in 
the  earliest  hand,  it  is  adopted  without  brackets  but  with  footnote. 
All  editorial  corrections  are  bracketed,  with  footnotes  of  the  MS. 
forms.    On  the  numbering  of  the  leaves  of  MS.  Jes.  Coll.  see  note 


W$t  Wtxt  3 

on  page  x.  In  C  undotted  iven  is  very  frequent  and  is  so  written 
as  to  be  in  these  cases  undistinguishable  from  thorn.  See  Notes 
649,  48.  In  a  number  of  places  thorn  is  dotted,  and  so  is  like  iven 
(see  Note  2) .  The  correct  letter  (thorn  or  iv)  is  printed  where  the 
MS.  word  is  in  itself  and  in  its  context  not  ambiguous  :  where  the  MS. 
form  in  itself  or  in  its  context  could  be  ambiguous,  it  is  bracketed 
with  a  footnote.  Caesural  points  in  C  are  noted  at  foot  of  text. 
Those  in  J  are  so  numerous  that  no  notice  has  been  taken  of  them. 
The  following  abbreviations  are  used  in  referring  to  editions  of 
the  poem  :  Str.  =  Stratmann  ;  St.  =  Stevenson  ;  Wr.  =  Wright. 
Variations  (usually  due  to  error)  in  these  editions  are  given  only 
where  they  may  illuminate. 


C^e  €>U)l  ant)  t^e  jiSfg^tfngale 

Ich  was  in  one  sum^re  dale,  MS.  Cott. 

in  one  suj?e  di^ele  hale,  Fo1-  233 r,  col.  i. 

iherde  ich  holde  grete  tale 

an  hule  and  one  ni^tingale. 
5  pat  plait  was  stif  &  stare  &  strong, 

sum  wile  softe  &  lud  among; 

an  ai]?er  a^en  o)?er  sval, 

&  let  )?at  wole  mod  ut  al. 

&  ei)?er  seide  of  oJ>eres  custe 
ioJ?at  alre-worste  )?at  hi  wuste : 

&  hure  &  hure  of  o)?ere  [s]  songe, 

hi  holde  plaiding  suj?e  stronge. 
pe  ni^tingale  bi-gon  )?e  speche 

in  one  hurne  of  one  [beche] , 
15  &  sat  up  one  vaire  bo$e, 

)?ar  were  abute  blosme  i-no^e, 

in  ore  waste  )?icke  hegge, 

imeind  mid  spire  &  grene  segge. 

Ho  was  )>e  gladur  uor  J?e  rise, 
20 &  song  auele  cunne  wise: 

[b]et  )?u}te  )?e  dreim  j?at  he  were 

2  \>  dotted.  —  7  marg.  pencil  eiber.  —  10  alere,  fir  it  e  deleted.  — 
1 1  obere.  —  14  breche.  —  21  het. 


Incip/7  altercacio  inter  filomenam  et  Bubonem. 

Ich  wes  in  one  sumere  dale,  MS.  Jes.  Coll. 

In  one  swtye  dyele  hale,  FoL  229r> co1-  *• 

Iherde  ich  holde  grete  tale 

An  vie  and  one  nyhtegale. 
5  pat  playd  wes  stif  &  stare  &  strong, 

Sum  hwile  softe  &  lud  am[o]ng; 

And  eyj?er  a-yeyn  o)?er  swal, 

And  let  ]?at  vuele  mod  vt  al. 

And  ey]?er  seyde  of  o)?res  custe 
iopat  alre-wrste  ])at  hi  y-wuste  : 

&  hure  &  hure  of  o)?res  songe, 

Hi  holde  playding  swi);e  stronge. 
pe  [n]  ihtegale  bi-gon  ]?o  speke 

In  one  hurne  of  one  beche, 
15  &  sat  vp  one  vayre  bowe, 

pat  were  abute  blostme  ynowe, 

In  ore  vaste  J^ikke  hegge, 

I  [m]  eynd  myd  spire  &  gmie  segge. 

He  wes  J?e  gladder  vor  ]?e  ryse, 
20  &  song  a  veole  cunne  wyse : 

Bet  ]?uhte  J>e  drem  J?at  he  were 

Latin  heading  in  red.  —  6  among,  o  on  g.  — 13  Nihtegale.  — 
18  IMeynd. 


6         tEtje  <®tol  ana  ttje  Nightingale 

of  harpe  &  pipe  )?an  he  nere, 

bet  Jm^te  )?at  he  were  i-shote 

of  harpe  &  pipe  J?an  of  )?rote. 
25       [p]  o  stod  on  old  stoc  J?ar  bi-side, 

J?ar  J?o  vie  song  hire  tide, 

&  was  mid  iui  al  bi-growe : 

hit  was  )?are  hule  earding-stowe. 
[p]e  ni^tingale  hi  ise}, 
30  &  hi  bihold  &  ouer-se}, 

&  j?u}te  wel  wl  of  )?are  hule, 

for  me  hi  halt  lodlich  &  fule. 

1  Vn-wi^t,'    ho  sede,  « a-wei  J?u  flo  ! 

me  is  )?e  wrs  j?at  ich  )?e  so. 
35l-wis  for  )?ine  wle  lete  Fol.  233  r,  col.  2. 

wel  oft  ich  mine  song  forlete ; 

min  horte  at-fli]?,  &  fait  mi  tonge, 

wonne  )?u  art  to  me  i-}?runge. 

Me  luste  bet  speten,  J?ane  singe, 
40  of  ]?ine  fule  p^elinge.' 

pos  hule  abod  fort  hit  was  eve, 

ho  ne  mi^te  no  leng  bileue, 

vor  hire  horte  was  so  gret 

]?at  wel  ne^  hire  fnast  at-schet, 
45  &  warp  a  word  ]?ar-aft*r  longe, 

'  Hu  ];inc]?e  nu  bi  mine  songe  ? 

West  ]?u  J?at  ich  ne  cunne  singe, 

25,  29  rubric  capital  omitted^  directing  Utter  remains. — 34  wrs, 
8  very  like  e. 


W$t  ®tol  ana  tlje  jpigtitmgale         7 

Of  harpe  &  pipe  J?an  he  nere, 

Bet  J?uhte  ]?at  heo  were  i-shote 

Of  harpe  &  pipe  ]?an  of  )?rote. 
25      po  stod  on  old  stole  )?ar  by-side, 

par  }?e  vie  song  hire  tyde, 

And  wes  myd  ivi  al  bi-growe  : 

Hit  wes  J?are  vie  erdingstowe. 
pe  [njihtegale  hi  iseyh, 
30  &  hi  bi-[hold]  and  ouer-seyh, 

&  ]?uhte  wel  ful  of  (?are  vie, 

For  me  hi  halt  lodlich  &  fule. 

*  Vnwyht,'  heo  seyde,  c  a-wey  ]?u  fleo  !    Fol.  229  r, 

Me  is  J?e  wurs  j?at  ich  J?e  iseo.  co1,  2* 

35lwis  for  ]?ine  wle  lete 

Wel  ofte  ich  my  song  fur-lete ; 

Min  heorte  atflyh)?  &  fait  my  tunge, 

Hwenne  J?u  art  to  me  i-Jminge. 

Me  luste  bet  speten,  ]?ane  singe, 
4° Of  J>ine  fule  howelynge.' 

peos  vie  abod  for  hit  wes  eve, 

Heo  ne  myhte  no  leng  bileue, 

Vor  hire  heorte  wes  so  gret 

pat  wel  neyh  hire  fnast  at-set, 
45  &  warp  a  word  J?ar-after  longe, 

1  Hw  J?ynk  ]?e  nu  bi  [m]ine  songe  ? 

Wenestu  )?at  ich  ne  kunne  singe, 

29  Nihtegale.  —  30   bi  holdeJ>.  —  32  small  crook  above  &. — 
46  Mine. 


8         W$t  @tol  anu  tlje  jpigtjtingale 

]?e$  ich  ne  cunne  of  writelinge  ? 

Home  J?u  dest  me  gr^me, 
50  &  seist  me  [boj?e  tone]  &  schame. 

^ if  ich  j?e  holde  on  mine  uote, 

so  hit  bitide  ]>at  ich  mote  ! 

&  ]?u  were  vt  of  |?ine  rise, 

}?u  sholdest  singe  an  o)?er  wse.' 
55      pe  ni^tingale  }af  answare, 

'  3  if  ich  me  loki  wit  J>e  bare, 

&  me  schilde  wit  )?e  blete, 

ne  reche  ich  no^t  of  f>ine  )?rete : 

}if  ich  me  holde  in  mine  hegge, 
60  ne  recche  ich  neu^r  what  ]m  segge. 

Ich  wot  ]?at  J?u  art  un-milde 

wij?  horn  )?at  ne  mu^e  horn  [)?]  e  schilde  : 

&  }?u  tukest  wro)?e  &  vuele 

whar  J?u  mi}t  over  smale  fu^ele. 
65Vor-)?i  ]>u  art  lo|?  al  fuel-kunne, 

&  alle  ho  ]?e  driue]?  honne, 

&  )?e  bi-schriche)?  &  bi-gredet, 

&  wel  narewe  J?e  bi-ledet : 

Sc  ek  for-J?e  )?e  sulue  mose,  Fol.  233  v,  col.  1. 

70 hire  ]?onkes,  wolde  J?e  to-tose. 

pu  art  lodlich  to  biholde, 

&  |?u  art  lop  in  monie  volde : 

50  seist,  e  verv  like  c,  cp.  367  ;  bo  be  to  ne.  —  51  uote,  very 
like  note  ;  St.,  Wr.  note.  —  62  se.  —  63  vuele,  very  like  vnele. 


®t)e  ®tol  ana  tije  jpigljtmgale         9 

pe  ich  ne  cunne  of  wrytelinge  ? 

Home  ]?u  dest  me  grome, 
50  &  seist  me  boj?e  teone  &  schome. 

If  ich  ]?e  heolde  on  myne  vote, 

So  hit  bitide  j?at  ich  mote  ! 

&  J?u  were  vt  of  ]?ine  ryse, 

pu  scholdest  singe  on  o]?er  wise.' 
55      pe  [n]  ihtegale  yaf  onsware, 

*  If  ich  me  loki  wi]?  J?e  bare, 

&  me  schilde  [w]  it  J?e  blete, 

Ne  recche  ich  nouht  of  ]?ine  )?rete  : 

If  ich  me  holde  in  myne  hegge, 
60  Ne  recche  ich  neuer  hwat  J?u  segge. 

Ich  wot  fat  )?u  art  vn  [m]  ilde 

WiJ?  heom  J?at  ne  [m]  uwe  from  )?e  schilde  : 

And  J?u  tukest  wrofe  &  vuele 

Hwar  J?u  myht  ouer  smale  vowele. 
65  Vor-J?i  J?u  art  lo|?  al  fowel-cunne,    Fol.  229  v,  col.  1. 

&  alle  heo  J?e  dryue|?  heonne, 

&  )?e  bi-scryche)?  &  bi-grede]?, 

&  wel  narewe  J?e  by-ledej? : 

&  ek  for-)?e  J?e  sulue  mose, 
70  Hire  )?onkes,  wolde  ]?e  to-tose. 

pu  art  lodlich  to  bi-holde, 

And  );u  art  I0J7  i«  monye  volde : 

55  Nihtegale.  —  57  vit.  —  61  vnMilde.  —  62  Muwe. 


io       tE^e  ®tol  ant)  tjie  jftigfotingale 

]?i  bodi  is  short,  ]?i  swore  is  smal, 

grett^re  is  j?in  heued  ]?an  )?u  al ; 
75j>in  e3ene  bo)?  col-blake  &  brode, 

ri}t  swo  ho  were«  ipei/zt  mid  wode ; 

j?u  starest  so  J?u  wille  abiten 

al  )?at  ]?u  mist  mid  cliure  smiten; 

)?i  bile  is  stif  &  scharp  &  hoked, 
8ori}t  so  an  owel  j?at  is  croked, 

)?ar-mid  )?u  clackes  [t]  oft  &  longe, 

&  )>at  is  on  of  J?ine  songe. 

Ac  J?u  pretest  to  mine  fleshe, 

mid  )?ine  cliures  woldest  me  meshe. 
85  pe  were  i-cundur  to  one  frogge: 
*         ♦  ♦         »  * 

snailes,  mus,  &  fule  wi^te, 

bo]?  J?ine  cunde  &  J?ine  ri^te. 

pu  sittest  a-dai,  &  fli$[s]t  a-ni$t, 
9o]?u  cu)?est  J?at  ]?u  art  on  vn-wi^t. 

pu  art  lodlich  &  un-clene, 

bi  )?ine  neste  ich  hit  mene, 

&  ek  bi  J?ine  fule  brode, 

j?u  fedest  on  horn  a  wel  ful  fode. 
95Vel  wostu  ]?at  hi  do)?  )?ar-inne, 

hi  fule]?  hit  up  to  ]?e  chinne  : 

ho  sitte)?  )?ar  so  hi  bo  bisne. 

par-bi  men  segget  a  uorbisne, 

73   swore,    ibscure  pencil  letter   above   e.  —  8 1    clackes;   oft, 
pencil  e  added.  —  86  omitted.  —  89  flijt,  J  is  on  a  t,  or  j  t  united. 


W$t  ®tol  anD  tlje  jpigfotiugaU       1 1 

pi  body  is  scort,  pi  swere  is  smal, 

Gretture  is  ]?in  heued  [)?an]  J?u  al; 
75  pin  eyen  beo)?  colblake  &  brode, 

Ryht  so  hi  werew  ipeynt  myd  wod* ; 

pu  starest  so  J?u  wille  abyten 

Al  J?at  ]?u  myht  myd  clyure  smytew ; 

pi  bile  is  stif  &  sarp  &  hoked, 
8oRiht  as  on  ewel  ]?at  is  croked, 

par-myd  )?u  clechest  eu*r  a-mowg, 

And  )?at  is  on  of  ]?ine  song. 

Ac  J?u  pretest  to  myne  vleysse, 

Mid  J?ine  cleures  woldest  me  [m]eysse. 
85  pe  were  i-cundere  to  one  frogge 

pat  sit  at  [m]  ulne  vnder  cogge : 

Snayles,  [m]  us,  and  fule  wihte, 

Beo]?  ]?ine  cunde  &  J?ine  rihte. 

pu  sittest  a-day,  and  flyhst  a-niht, 
90  pu  cu]?est  J?at  |?u  art  on  vnwiht. 

pu  art  lodlich  and  vnclene, 

Bi  J?ine  neste  ich  hit  mene, 

And  ek  bi  )?ine  fule  brode, 

pu  vedest  on  heow  [a  wel]  ful  vode. 
95  Wei  wostu  J?at  hi  do)?  J?ar-ynne, 

Hi  fule]?  hit  vp  to  ]?e  chynne  : 

Heo  syttej?  ]?ar  so  hi  beo  bysne. 

Hwar-bi  men  seggej?  a  vor-bysne, 

74  heued  ne  bu.  —  75  all  after  bin  on  erasure.  —  84  Meysse.  — 
86  Mulne.  —  87  Mus.  —  91  defective  &  followed  by  and.  —  94 
awel. 


1 2       W$t  ®tol  anD  tije  0$tin$zlt 

"  [Dahet]  habbe  ]?at  ilke  best 
ioo|?at  fule)?  his  owe  nest." 

pat  o}?er  }er  a  faukuw  bredde ; 

his  nest  no^t  wel  he  ne  bi-hedde : 

];ar-to  )?u  stele  in  o  day, 

&  leidest  ]?ar-on  J?i  fole  ey.  Foi.  233  v,  col.  1. 

105  po  hit  bi-com  )?at  he  ha^te, 

&  of  his  eyre  briddes  wrajte, 

ho  bro^te  his  briddes  mete, 

bihold  his  nest,  ise}  hi  ete : 

he  ise}  bi  one  halue 
1 10  his  nest  i-fuled  ut-halue. 

pe  faucuw  was  wrof>  wit  his  bridde, 

&  lude  3al  &  sterne  chidde, 

u  Segget  me,  wo  hauet  J?is  i-do  ? 

Ov  nas  neuer  i-cunde  ]?ar-to  : 
1 15  hit  was  i-don  ov  aloj?  [custe]. 

Segge  me  }if  }e  hit  wiste." 

po  qua)?  ]?at  on  &  quad  J?at  o}?£r, 

"  I-wis  it  was  ure  o^er  broker, 

|;e  pnd  ]?at  haued  )?at  grete  heued  : 
120  wai  ]?at  hi[t]nis  j?ar-of  bi-reued  ! 

Worp  hit  ut  mid  )?e  alre-wrste 

]?at  his  necke  him  to-berste  !  " 

pe  faucuw  i-lefde  his  bridde, 

&  nom  ]?at  fule  brid  amidde 

99  da  het.  —  106  wen  Hie  y,  no  dot ;   Str.  w,  St.,    Wr.  y. — 
1 15  wiste.  —  120  letter  (?  long  s)  erased  after  hi. 


Wyt  ®tol  anti  tlje  jj*ig|)ttngale       1 3 

"  Dehaet  habbe  ]?at  ilke  best  Fol.  229  v,  col.  a. 

100  pat  fule]?  his  owe  nest." 

pat  o|?er  yer  a  faukun  bredde ; 

His  nest  nowiht  wel  he  ne  bihedde : 

par-to  ]?u  stele  in  o  day, 

&  leydest  |?ar-on  ]?i  fule  ey. 
105  po  hit  bycom  ]?at  he  hayhte, 

&  of  his  eyre  briddes  wrauhte, 

Heo  brouhte  his  briddes  mete, 

Bi-heold  his  nest,  i-seyh  hi  ete : 

He  i-seyh  bi  one  halue 
1 10  His  nest  ifuled  in  ]?e  vt  halue. 

pe  faukun  wes  wroj?  wi]?  his  bridde, 

&  lude  yal  and  sturne  chidde, 

u  Segge}?  me  hwo  haue]?  |?is  i-do  ? 

Eu  nas  neuer  i-cunde  ]?er-to : 
115  Hit  wes  i-don  eu  a  lo]?e  custe. 

Segge]?  me  if  ye  hit  wiste." 

po  que]?  }?at  on  and  que]?  ]?at  o]?er, 

u  Iwis  hit  wes  vre  owe  bro]?er, 

pat  yeonde  ]?at  haue]?  ]?at  grete  heued : 
120  Way  }?at  he  nys  ]?ar-of  by-reued  ! 

Werp  hit  vt  myd  ]?e  vyrste 

pet  his  nekke  him  to-berste  !  " 

pe  faukun  leuede  his  i-bridde, 

&  nom  ]?at  fule  brid  a-mydde 


14       W$t  @toi  an&  tfce  Nightingale 

125  &  warp  hit  of  J?an  wilde  bowe, 

]>ar  pie  &  crowe  hit  to-drowe. 

Her-bi  men  segget  abi-spel, 

j?e}  hit  ne  bo  fuliche  spel, 

al  so  hit  is  bi  )?an  un-gode 
i3o};>at  is  i-cumen  of  fule  brode, 

&  is  meind  wit  fro  monne, 

euer  he  cu]?  ]?at  he  com  J?onne, 

]?at  he  com  of  J?an  adel  eye, 

J?e$  he  a  fro  nest  leie. 
135  pe$  appel  trendli  fro[m]  j?on  trowe, 

J?ar  he  &  o]?fr  mid  growe, 

j>e$  he  bo  ]?ar-from  bi-cume, 

he  cu)?  wel  whonene  he  is  i-cume.'  Fol.  2341-,  col.  1. 
pos  word  a-^af  )?e  ni^tingale, 
140  &  aft^r  J?are  longe  tale 

he  song  so  lude  &  so  scharpe, 

ri}t  so  me  grulde  schille  harpe. 

pos  hide  luste  ]?ider-ward, 

(5c  hold  hire  e$e  no}?er-wa  [r]  d, 
145  &  sat  to-svolle  &  ibolwe 

also  ho  hadde  one  frogge  i-suol^e  : 

for  ho  wel  wiste  h  was  i-war 

]?at  ho  song  hire  abisemar. 

&  no)?eles  ho  5a  [f]  andsuare, 
i5°l  Whi  [neltu]  flon  in-to  J?e  bare, 

135  fron.  —  136  f>ar  &,  &  deleted.  —  144  wad,  u  altered  to 
wen.  — 145  smudge  above  wen.  —  149  jas,  marg.  pencil  f.  —  1 50 
nel  tu. 


Wtyt  ®tol  ana  tfje  jptgtitmgale       15 

125  &  warp  hym  of  pan  wilde  bowe, 

pat  pie  and  crowe  hit  to-drowe. 

per-by  men  seggej?  a  by-spel, 

peyh  hit  ne  beo  fulliche  spel, 

Al  so  hit  is  bi  pan  vn-gode 
1 30  pat  is  icumen  of  rule  brode, 

&  is  y-meynd  wij?  freo  monne, 

Euer  he  cup  pat  he  com  penne, 

pat  he  com  of  pan  adel  eye,  Fol.  230  r,  col.  1. 

peyh  he  a  freo  neste  leye. 
135  peyh  appel  trendli  from  pe  treo, 

par  he  and  oper  myde  grewe, 

peyh  he  beo  par-from  bicume, 

He  cup  hwenene  he  is  i-cume.' 
peos  word  a-yaf  pe  nihtegale, 
140  And  after  pare  longe  tale 

Heo  song  so  lude  &  so  scharpe, 

Ryht  so  me  grwlde  schille  harpe. 

peos  vie  luste  pider-ward, 

&  heold  hire  eyen  neper-ward, 
145  &  sat  to-swolle  &  to-bolewe 

So  heo  hedde  one  frogge  iswolwe : 

For  heo  wel  wiste  &  was  i-war 

pat  heo  song  hire  a  bysemar. 

&  napeles  heo  yaf  ondsware, 
150'  Hwy  [neltu]  fleon  i«-to  [pe]  bare, 

146  iswolwe,  s  inserted  above.  —  150  nel  tu  j  i»  to  bare. 


1 6       W$t  @tol  ann  tljc  jftig&tingaU 

&  sewi  [w]  are  unk^r  bo 

Of  bri^t^r  howe,  of  uairur  bio  ? ' 

1  No,  ]?u  hauest  wel  scharpe  clawe, 

ne  kepich  no^t  ]?at  ]?u  me  clawe. 
155  pu  hauest  cliuers  su)?e  stronge, 

j?u  tuengst  J?ar-mid  so  do)?  a  tonge. 

pu  ]?o$test,  so  do]?  J?ine  Hike, 

mid  faire  worde  me  bi-swike. 

Ich  nolde  don  j?at  J?u  me  raddest, 
160  ich  wiste  wel  J?at  |?u  me  mis-raddest. 

Schamie  J?e  for  )?in  unrede  ! 

Vn-wro^en  is  \\  svikel-hede  ! 

Schild  )?ine  svikel-dom  vram  ]?e  li}te, 

&  hud  ]?at  wo)e  amon  [g]  )?e  ri^te. 
165  [W]ane  ]?u  wilt  ]?in  unri^t  spene, 

loke  ]?at  hit  ne  bo  i-sene : 

vor  svike[l]-dom  haued  schome  &  hete, 

$if  hit  is  ope  &  under- ^ete. 

Ne  speddestu  no^t  mid  ]?ine  un-wrenche, 
170  for  ich  am  war  &  can  wel  blenche. 

Ne  help)?  no^t  )?at  J?u  bo  to  Q>]riste : 

ich  wolde  vi^te  bet  mid  liste  Fol.  234  r,  col.  *. 

j?an  f>u  mid  al  )?ine  streng]?e. 

Ich  habbe  on  brede  &  ec  [h]  on  leng)?e 

151  t>are,  no  dot. —  159  )>a,  t  inserted ;  raddest,  second  d 
deleted. —  161  jwarg-.  pencil  god.  —  164  amon. —  165  )>anef 
ho  </cr.  —  167  svike  dom.  —  170  war,  crook  after  wen.  —  17I 
wriste,  \>  dotted.  —  1 74  ech,  ?  h  altered  to  k. 


W$t  ®tol  ana  ttje  jliig&tingate       1 7 

And  schewi  hwe]?er  vnker  beo 

Of  brihtfr  hewe,  of  fayrur  bleo? ' 

c  No,  |?u  hauest  scharpe  clawe, 

Ne  kepe  ich  noht  J?at  )?u  me  clawe. 
155  pu  hauest  clyures  swij?e  strowge, 

pu  twengest  J?ar-mid  so  do]?  a  tonge. 

pu  )>outest,  so  do]?  J?ine  i-lyche, 

Mid  fayre  worde  me  biswike. 

Ich  nolde  don  ]?at  J?u  me  raddest, 
160  Ich  wiste  wel  ]?at  ]?u  me  mis-raddest. 

Schomye  J?e  vor  J?ine  vnrede  ! 

Vn-wryen  is  J?i  swike  [1]  hede  ! 

Schild  J?i  swike  [l]dow  fro/w  ]?e  lyhte, 

And  hud  )?at  wowe  a-mo«g  ]?e  ryhte. 
165  Hwanne  ]?u  wilt  []?in]  vnriht  spene, 

Loke  )?at  hit  ne  beo  i-sene : 

Vor  swike  [l]dom  haue};  schome  and  hete,     Fol. 

If  hit  is  ope  and  vnder-yete.  23°  r>  co1-  *« 

Ne  spedestu  nouht  mid  ]?in  vn-wrenche, 
170  For  ich  am  war  and  can  blenche. 

Ne  helpe]?  noht  J?at  )?u  bo  to  ]?riste: 

Ich  wolde  vyhte  bet  myd  liste 

pan  ]?u  mid  al  ]?ine  streng]?e. 

Ich  habbe  on  brede  &  ek  on  lengj?e 

162   swikehede.  —  163   swikedow.  —  165  \>\i  vnriht.  —  167 
swikedom  ;  hete,  -e  cut  off. 


1 8       ®tje  @tol  ana  ttje  jpigtitmgale 

i75castel  god  on  mine  rise: 

"  Wei  fi}t  )?at  wel  fli^t,"  sei]?  ]?e  wise. 

Ac  lete  we  a-wei  )?os  cheste, 

vor  suiche  wordes  bo]?  un-w  [re]  ste ; 

&  fo  we  on  mid  i^te  dome, 
1 80  mid  faire  worde  &  mid  ysome. 

pe$  we  ne  bo  at  one  a-corde, 

we  mu^e  bet  mid  fayre  worde, 

wit-ute  cheste,  &  bute  fi^te, 

plaidi  mid  fo^e  &  mid  ri^te: 
185  &  mai  hure  ei)?er  wat  hi  wile 

mid  ri^te  segge  &  mid  sckile.' 

po  qua)?  )?e  hule,  '  [W]  u  schal  us  seme, 

)?at  kunne  &  wille  ri^t  us  deme  ? ' 

4  Ich  wot  wel, '  qua)?  )?e  ni^tingale, 
190'  Ne  )?aref  )?ar-of  bo  no  tale. 

Maist^r  Nichole  of  Gulde-forde, 

he  is  wis  an  war  of  worde  : 

he  is  of  dome  su)?e  gleu, 

&  him  is  lo)?  eurich  un-)?eu. 
195  He  wot  in-si^t  in  eche  songe, 

wo  singet  wel,  wo  singet  wronge: 

&  he  can  schede  vrom  J?e  ri^te 

J?at  wo^e,  ]?at  J?ust*r  from  J?e  li^te.' 
po  hule  one  wile  hi  bi-J>o}te, 
200  &  aft^r  )?an  )?is  word  up-bro^te, 

178   un  werste,  marg.  pencil  cross.  —  180  ysome,  y  much  like 
wen.  —  184  foje,  f  -very  like  long  s.  —  187  jm,  no  dot. 


Ww  ®fcol  ana  tlje  jptgfttmgaie       19 

175  Castel  god  on  myne  ryse : 

"  Wei  fyht  ]?at  wel  flyh]?,"  seyj?  J?e  wise. 

Ac  lete  [we]  a-wey  ]?eos  cheste, 

For  suche  wordes  beo{?  vn-wreste; 

And  fo  we  on  myd  rihte  dome, 
180  Mid  fayre  worde  &  myd  some. 

peyh  we  ne  beon  at  one  acorde, 

We  mawe  bet  myd  fayre  worde, 

Wi]?-vte  cheste,  and  bute  vyhte, 

Playde  mid  so]?e  &  mid  ryhte: 
185  &  may  vr  ey]?er  hwat  he  wile 

Mid  rihte  segge  &  myd  skile.' 

po  qua)?  )?e  vie,  '  Hwo  schal  vs  seme, 

pat  cunne  &  wille  riht  vs  deme  ? ' 

'  Ich  wot  wel,'  qua]?  ]?e  nyhtegale, 
1904  Ne  ]?arf  |?er-of  beo  no  tale. 

Mayster  Nichol  of  Guldeuorde, 

He  is  wis  and  war  of  worde  : 

He  is  of  worde  swy]?e  glev, 

And  him  is  lo|?  eurich  vn-]>eu. 
195  He  wot  insyht  \n  euche  songe, 

Hwo  singe]?  wel,  hwo  singe]?  wronge: 

And  he  con  schede  from  ]?e  rihte 

pat  wowe,  ]?at  ]?uster  frow  ]?e  lyhte.' 
pe  vie  one  hwile  hi  bihouhte, 
200  And  after  ]?an  J?is  word  up-brouhte, 

177  lete  a  wey. 


20       &\)t  <®tol  anu  t\)t  jptgfotingaie 

4  Ich  granti  vvel  J?at  he  us  deme, 

vor  j?e}  he  were  wile  breme, 

&  lof  him  were  ni^tingale, 

&  o)?er  wi^te  gente  &  smale, 
205  ich  wot  he  is  nu  su)?e  a-coled. 

Nis  he  vor  ]?e  no}t  a-foled,  Fol.  234  v,  col.  i. 

J?at  he,  for  ]?ine  olde  luue, 

me  a-dun  legge  &  j?e  buue : 

ne  schaltu  neure  so  him  queme, 
2io)?at  he  for  )?e  fals  dom  deme. 

He  is  him  ripe  &  fast-rede, 

ne  lust  him  [nu  to]  none  un-rede : 

nu  him  ne  lust  na  more  pleie, 

he  wile  gon  a  ri^te  weie.' 
215      pe  ni^tingale  was  al  ^are, 

ho  hadde  ilorned  wel  aiware : 

4  Hule,'  ho  sede,  '  seie  me  so};, 

wi  dostu  )?at  un-wi3tis  do)?  ? 

pu  singist  ani^t  &  no^t  a-dai, 
220  &  al  ]?i  song  is  waila-wai. 

pu  mi^t  mid  )?ine  songe  a-fere 

alle  j?at  iherej?  J?ine  ibere  : 

)?u  sch  [ri]  chest  &  pllest  to  )?ine  fere, 

]?at  hit  is  grislich  to  ihere : 
225  hit  J?inche[)?]  bo)?e  wise  &  snepe, 

207  loue,  o  deleted,  u  above.  — 208  crook  as  for  er  after  J>e.  — 
211  marg.  pencil  cross.  —  212  nuto  or  unto. — 221  jm  mijt  on 
erasure.  — 223  schirchest.  —  225  ^inchest.  ^ 


W$t  ®tol  anu  ttie  jpigljtmgale       21 

4  Ich  graunti  wel  ]?at  he  vs  d<?me,     Fol.  230  v,  col.  1. 

For  ]?eyh  he  were  hwile  breme, 

&  leof  hym  wre  [n]  ihtingale, 

And  o}?er  wyhte  gent  &  smale, 
205  Ich  wot  he  is  [nu  su]?e]  a-coled. 

Nis  he  vor  J?e  nouht  afoled, 

pat  he,  vor  J?ine  olde  luue, 

Me  a-dun  legge  &  ]?e  a-buue : 

N[e]  schaltu  neuer  so  him  queme, 
210  pat  he  for  )?e  fals  dom  deme. 

He  is  nv  ripe  &  fast-rede, 

Ne  luste  hym  nv  to  non  vnred* : 

Nv  him  ne  lust  namore  pleye, 

He  wile  gon  a  rihte  weye/ 
215      pe  [n]ihtegale  wes  al  ware, 

Heo  hedde  i-leorned  wel  i-hware : 

4  Vie,'  heo  seyde,  '  seye  me  so]?, 

Hwi  dostu  )?at  vnwihtes  do];  ? 

pu  singest  a-nyht  &  nouht  a-day, 
220  And  al  J>i  song  is  way-laway. 

pu  miht  mid  J?ine  songe  afere 

Alle  ]?at  here)?  )?ine  i-bere : 

p  [u]  scrichest  &  yollest  to  J?ine  fere, 

pat  hit  is  gryslich  to  ihere : 
225  Hit  J?inche]?  boJ>e  wise  &  snepe, 

201   ba,  t  inserted  above.  —  203   Nihringale. — 205  is  nu  be  a 
coled.  — 209  N  schaltu.  —  215  Nihtegale.  —  223  p  scrichest. 


22       tEtje  ®tol  ann  tije  jl&tgfttingale 

no^t  ]?at  )?ii  singe,  ac  ]?at  )?u  wepe. 

pu  fli^st  ani^t  &  no}t  a-dai : 

J?ar-of  ich  wndri,  &  wel  mai, 

vor  eurich  J?ing  ]>at  schuniet  ri$t, 
230  hit  luuej?  |?ust^r  &  hatiet  li^t; 

&  eurich  ];ing  }?at  is  lof  mis-dede, 

hit  luuej?  J?ust^r  to  his  dede. 

A  wis  word,  ]?e^  hit  bo  un-clene, 

is  fele  manne  a  mu]?e  imene, 
235  for  Alured  King  hit  seide  &  wrot, 

"  He  schunet  ]?at  [hine]  wl  wot." 

Ich  wene  ]?at  j?u  dost  also, 

vor  J?u  fli3St  ni^tes  tuer  mo. 

An  o)?<?r  J?ing  me  is  a-wene, 
240  J?u  hauest  a-ni^t  wel  bri^te  sene;     Foi.  234  v,  col.  z. 

bi  daie  J?u  art  stare-blind, 

|?at  ]?u  ne  sichst  ne  bos  ne  strind. 

A-dai  ]?u  art  blind  o]>er  bisne, 

)?ar-bi  men  segget  a  uor-bisne, 
245"Ri^t  so  hit  far]?  bi  )?an  un-gode 

]?at  no^t  ne  su]?  to  none  gode, 

&  is  so  ful  of  vuele  wrenche, 

]?at  him  ne  mai  no  man  at-pmiche, 

&  can  wel  ]?ane  J?u  [str]  e  wai, 

236  schunet,  t  interlined  after  n  ;  hi  ne.  —  240  eyen  interlined 
after  ni}t.  —  241  crook  above  bi  as  for  er,  cp.  208.  —  242  bos,  s  de- 
leted, v  above  s  j  strind,  st  deleted.  —  249  burste. 


W$t  ®tol  ant)  tlje  jlitgtjtmgale       23 

Nouht  J?at  )?u  singe,  [ac  )?at]  )?u  wepe. 

pu  flyhst  a-nyht  and  noht  a-day  : 

par-of  ich  wundri,  &  wel  may, 

For  vych  J?ing  ]?at  schonyej?  riht, 
23°  Hit  luuyej?  ]?ust^r  &  hate)?  lyht ; 

&  euych  ]?ing  ]?at  luue];  misded*, 

Hit  luuej?  ]>uster  to  his  dede. 

A  wis  word,  ]?eyh  hit  beo  vn-clene, 

Is  fele  monne  a  mu]?e  i-mene, 
235  For  Alured  King  hit  seyde  &  wrot,        Fol.  230  v, 

"  He  schune]?  ]?at  hine  ful  wot."  co1-  2- 

Ich  wene  J?at  ]?u  dost  al  so, 

For  J?u  flyhst  nyhtes  euer  mo. 

[An]  o)?er  ]?ing  me  is  a-wene, 
240  pu  hauest  a-nyht  wel  bryhte  sene ; 

Bi  daye  p>u  art  stare-blynd, 

pat  )?u  ne  syst  bouh  of  lynd. 

A-day  ]?u  art  blynd  op>er  bisne, 

par-by  men  segge]?  a  vorbisne, 
245 "  Riht  so  hit  far]?  bi  ]?an  vngode 

pat  nouht  ne  i-syh];  to  none  gode, 

&  is  so  ful  of  vuele  wrenche, 

pat  him  ne  may  no  mon  a-prenche, 

&  con  wel  J>ene  ]?ustre  way, 

226  singe  at  bu.  —  232  hit,  t  erased  or  ivorn  away.  —  239  & 
ober.  —  246  i  syhb  in  different  hand. 


24       tCtje  ®toi  anu  tfje  jpig&tmgale 

250  &  ]?ane  bri^te  lat  a-wai." 

So  do]?  j?at  bo)?  of  ]?ine  cunde, 

of  li^te  nabbej?  hi  none  imunde.' 
pos  hule  luste  su]?e  longe, 

&  was  of-toned  suj?  [e]  stronge  : 
255  ho  qua)?,  '  pu  [h]  attest  ni^tingale, 

)?u  mutest  bet  hoten  galegale, 

vor  J?u  hauest  to  monie  tale. 

Lat  J?ine  tunge  habbe  spale  ! 

pu  wenest  ]?at  )?es  dai  [bo  ]?in  o^e]: 
260  lat  me  nu  habbe  mine  J?ro}e ; 

bo  nu  stille  Sc  lat  me  speke, 

ich  wille  bon  of  J?e  a-wreke. 

&  lust  hu  ich  con  me  bitelle, 

mid  ri^te  so]?e  wit-ute  spelle. 
265  pu  seist  J?at  ich  me  hude  a-dai, 

j?ar-to  ne  segge  ich  nich  ne  nai : 

&  lust  ich  telle  J?e  ware-uore, 

al  wi  hit  is  &  ware-uore. 

Ich  habbe  bile  stif  &  stronge, 
270  &  gode  cliuers  scharp  &  longe, 

so  hit  bi-cume)?  to  hauekes  cunne; 

hit  is  min  hi^te,  hit  is  mi  wune, 

}?at  ich  me  dra$e  to  mine  cunde, 

ne  mai  [me]  no  man  J?are-uore  schende  ;       Foi. 

235  r,  col.  1. 
251  cunde,  dot  ever  n.  —  254  sub,  e  interlined  in  different  ink. 
—  255  ho  qua}>  marked  for  transposition  j  attest,  h  above  in  differ- 
ent ink.  —  259  bobinoje.  —  274  mai  no. 


Wqt  ®iol  anti  ttje  jpigtjtingaie       25 

250  &  J?ane  bryhte  lat  a-way." 

So  do]?  )?at  beo]?  of  J?ine  cunde, 

Of  lihte  nabbej?  hi  none  i-munde.' 
peos  vie  luste  swi]?e  longe, 

&  wes  of-teoned  swij?e  stronge : 
255  Heo  qua)?,  '  pu  hattest  [njihtegale, 

pu  [mjihtest  bet  hote  galegale, 

Vor  ]?u  hauest  to  monye  tale. 

Let  }>ine  tunge  habbe  spale ! 

pu  wenest  )?at  }?es  day  beo  pin  owe : 
260  Let  me  nv  habbe  myne  frowe ; 

Beo  nv  stille  &  let  me  speke, 

Ich  wile  beo  of  pe  a-wreke. 

&  lust  hw  ich  con  me  bi-telle, 

Mid  rihte  so)?e  wi]?-vte  spelle. 
265  pu  seyst  J?at  ich  me  hude  a-day, 

par-to  ne  segge  ich  nyk  no  nay  : 

&  lust  ich  telle  hwer-vore, 

Al  hwi  hit  is  &  hware-vore. 

Ich  habbe  bile  stif  &  strong,  Fol.  231  r,  col.  1. 

270  &  gode  cleures  scharp  &  longe, 

So  hit  by-cume]?  to  hauekes  cunne ; 

Hit  is  myn  hyhte  &  my  [wu]ne 

pat  ich  me  drawe  to  mine  cundf, 

Ne  may  me  no  mow  )?ar-for  send*; 

255  Nihtegale.  —  256  Mihtest.  —  267  vore,  o  somewhat  like  a 
poor  a.  —  272  my  ynne. 


26       Ctie  @tol  anD  tt)r  j^igtjtingaU 

275  on  me  hit  is  wel  i-sene, 

vor  ri^te  cunde  ich  am  so  kene. 

Yor-)?i  ich  am  loj?  smale  fo^le 

J?at  floj?  bi  grunde  an  bi  ]?uuele : 

hi  me  bi-chermet  &  bi-gredej?, 
280  &  hore  flockes  to  [m]e  ledej?. 

Me  is  lof  to  habbe  reste 

&  sitte  stille  in  mine  neste  : 

vor  nere  ich  neu^r  no  f?e  betere, 

[3]  if  ich  mid  chauling  &  mid  chat^re 
285  horn  schende  Sc  mid  fule  worde, 

so  herdes  do]?  o]>er  mid  schit-worde. 

Ne  lust  me  wit  J?e  screwen  chide, 

for-Jn  ich  wende  from  horn  wide. 

Hit  is  a  wise  monne  dome, 
290  &  hi  hit  segget  wel  ilome, 

J?at  me  ne  chide  wit  }?e  gidie, 

ne  wit  J?an  ofne  me  ne  pnie. 

At  sume  sij?e  herde  [I  telle] 

hu  Alured  sede  on  his  spelle, 
295"  Loke  J?at  j?u  ne  bo  J^are 

)>ar  chauling  boJ>  &  cheste  $are  : 

lat  sottes  chide,  &  uorj?  ]m  go." 

<5c  ich  am  wis,  &  do  also. 

&  ^et  Alured  seide  an  o\>er  side, 
300  a  word  ]^at  is  i-sprunge  wide, 

"  pat  wit  ]?e  fule  haue)?  i-mene, 

280  ne,  altered  in  later  hand  to  me.  —  284  f>if.  —  293    sij>e, 
later  \>  inserted  above  after  \>  ;  itelle. 


tElje  ®tol  ana  ttje  jfttgtjtmgale       27 

275  On  me  hit  is  wel  i-sene, 

For  rihte  cunde  ich  am  so  kene. 

Vor-)?i  ich  am  loj?  smale  vowele 

pat  fleoj?  bi  grzmde  &  bi  ]?uuele  : 

Hi  me  bichirmej?  &  bi-grede]?, 
280  &  heore  flockes  to  me  ledej?. 

Me  is  leof  to  habbe  reste 

And  sitte  stille  in  myne  neste  : 

Vor  nere  ich  neuer  )?e  betere, 

peyh  ich  mid  changliwg  and  myd  chatere 
285  Heom  schende  &  myd  fule  worde, 

So  herdes  do)?  ctyer  [m]id  sit-worde. 

Ne  lust  me  wi]?  J?e  screwed  chide, 

For-]?i  ich  wende  horn  heom  wide. 

Hit  is  [a  wise  monne]  dome, 
290  &  hi  hit  segge]?  wel  i-lome, 

pat  me  ne  chide  wij?  ]?e  gidie, 

Ne  wi)?  ]?an  ofne  me  ne  yonie. 

At  sum  sy]?e  herde  I  telle 

Hw  Alured  seyde  on  his  spelle, 
295"  Loke  )?at  J?u  ne  beo  ]?are 

par  changling  beo)?  &  cheste  vare : 

Let  sottes  chide,  &  for]?  ]?u  go." 

&  ich  am  wis,  &  do  al  so. 

&  yet  Alured  seyde  an  o]?er  syd*, 
300  A  word  ]?at  is  i-sprunge  wid<?, 

u  pat  wij?  ]?e  fule  haue]?  i-mene, 

284  chatere  above  line  for  lack  of  space.  —  286   Mid.  —  289 
awisemonne. 


28       W$t  <$tol  ana  tlje  j^igfttmgale 

ne  cumej)  he  neuer  from  him  cleine." 

Wenestu  j?at  haueck  bo  |?e  worse 

)?o}  crowe  bi-grede  him  bi  ]?e  m^rshe, 
305  &  go]?  to  him  mid  hore  chirme 

ri^t  so  hi  wille  wit  him  schirme  ? 

pe  hauec  fol^e]?  gode  rede, 

&  fli}t  his  wei,  &  lat  him  grede.     Fol.  235  r,  col.  a. 
1  2,et  J?u  me  seist  of  6\>er  J?inge, 
310&  telst  j?at  ich  ne  can  no^t  singe, 

ac  al  mi  rorde  is  woning, 

&  to  ihire  grislich  ]?ing. 

pat  nis  no}t  so]?,  ich  singe  efne, 

mid  fulle  dreme  &  lude  stefne. 
315  pu  wenist  J?at  ech  song  bo  grislich, 

J?at  )?ine  pipinge  nis  ilich. 

Mi  stefne  is  [bold]  &  no^t  un-orne, 

ho  is  ilich  one  grete  home, 

&  pin  is  ilich  one  pipe, 
320 of  one  smale  wode  un-ripe. 

Ich  singe  bet  J?an  J?u  dest : 

J?u  chat^rest  so  do}?  on  Irish  prost. 

Ich  singe  an  eue  ari^te  time, 

^&  so]?J?e  won  hit  is  bed-time, 

325  J?e  j?ridde  si]?e  ad  middel-ni^te  : 

307  fl  deleted  after  hauec.  —  308  him,  i  altered  to  e.  —  312 
hire,  i-  interlined.  —  317  blod,  marg.  later  bold.  —  320  wode, 
after  o  later  e  interlined.  —  322  prost,  after  r  later  e  interlined. 


W$t  <Dtol  ana  ttje  j^igitfingale       29 

Ne  cume))  he  neu^r  from  him  clene." 

Wenestu  j?at  hauek  beo  ]?e  wrse     Foi.  231  r,  col.  2. 

pe  crowe  bi-grede  him  bi  ]?e  m^rsche, 
305  &  goj?  to  him  myd  heore  chyrme 

Riht  so  hi  wille  wij?  him  schirme  ? 

pe  hauek  folewej?  gode  rede; 

He  flyhj?  his  wey,  &  let  hi  grede. 
4  [Y]  et  J?u  me  seyst  of  o)?er  )?inge, 
31°  &  tellest  )?at  ich  ne  can  nouht  singe, 

Ac  al  my  reorde  is  wonyng, 

And  to  i-here  gryslych  J?ing. 

pat  nis  nouht  so)?,  ich  singe  efne, 

Mid  fulle  dreme  &  lude  stefne. 
315  pu  wenest  |?at  eoch  song  beo  gr/slich, 

pat  )?ine  pipinge  nis  ilich. 

Mi  stefne  is  bold  &  nouht  vn-orne, 

Heo  is  ilich  one  grete  home, 

&  )?in  is  iliche  one  pype, 
320  Of  one  smale  weode  vnripe. 

Ich  [singe]  bet  J?an  )?u  dest : 

pu  chaterest  so  doj?  on  Yris  pmt. 

Ich  singe  an  efne  a  ryhte  time, 

&  se]?J?e  hwenne  hit  is  bed-time, 
325  pe  pridde  syj?e  a  middel-nyhte  : 

309  J?et.  —  321  singe  omitted. 


30       W$t  ®tol  ana  tlje  jfttgtitmgaU 

&  so  ich  mine  song  a-di$te 

wone  ich  iso  arise  vorre 

o)?er  dai-rim  o)?er  dai-sterre. 

Ich  do  god  mid  mine  J?rote, 
330  &  warni  men  to  hore  note. 

Ac  J?u  singest  alle  longe  ni$t, 

from  eue  fort  hit  is  dai-li^t, 

&  eure  seist  j?in  o  song 

so  longe  so  )?e  ni^t  is  long; 
335 &  eure  crowej?  )?i  wrecche  crei, 

J?at  he  ne  swikej?  ni^t  ne  dai. 

Mid  ]?ine  pipinge  ]?u  a-dunest 

J?as  monnes  earen  ]?ar  ]?u  wunest, 

&  makest  )?ine  song  so  un-wrj? 
34o)?a[t]  me  ne  tel)?  of  J?ar  no}[t]  wrf. 

Eurich  mur}]?e  mai  so  longe  ileste, 

J?at  ho  shal  liki  wel  un-wreste  :        Fol.  235  v,  col.  1. 

vor  harpe,  &  pipe,  h  fu^eles  songe, 

mislike)?,  }if  hit  is  to  long. 
345  Ne  bo  J?e  song  neu^r  so  murie, 

)?at  he  ne  shal  )?inche  wel  un-murie 

$ef  he  ileste)?  ouer  un-wille  : 

so  ]?u  mi}t  J?ine  song  aspille. 

Vor  hit  is  so)?,  Alured  hit  seidde, 
350  &  me  hit  mai  ine  boke  rede, 

333  seist,  long  s  later  altered  to  ?1.  —  339  wrj?,  J?  smudged.  — 
340  ^at,  nojt,  t'f  interlined  in  later  hand.  — 349  seidde,  first  d 
deleted.  —  350  ine,  no  dot. 


W$t  ®tol  ana  tije  jptgtitmgale       31 

&  so  ich  myne  songe  a-dihte 

Hwenne  ich  i-seo  a-rise  veorre 

Oj?er  day-rewe  o]?er  day-steorre. 

Ic  do  god  myd  myne  J?rote, 
330  And  warny  men  to  heore  note. 

Ac  J?u  singest  alle  longe  nyht, 

From  eue  ]?at  hit  is  day-liht, 

&  euer  lestej?  )?in  o  song 

So  longe  so  ]?e  nyht  is  long; 
335  &  euer  crowej?  J?i  wrecche  crey, 

pat  he  ne  swikej?  nyht  ne  day. 

Mid  j?ine  pipinge  )?u  adunest  Fol.  231  v,  col.  1. 

pas  mownes  eren  }?ar  j?u  wunest, 

&  makest  ]?i  song  so  vnwiht 
340  pat  me  ne  telle}?  of  |?e  nowiht. 

Eurych  mure)?e  may  so  lowge  leste, 

pat  heo  schal  liki  wel  vnwreste  : 

For  harpe,  &  pipe,  &  foweles  song, 

Mislike];,  if  hit  is  to  long. 
345  Ne  beo  )?e  song  ne  so  murie, 

pat  he  ne  sal  J?inche  vnmurie 

If  he  ileste]?  ouer  vnwille  : 

So  ]?u  myht  J?i  song  aspille. 

For  hit  is  so)?,  Alured  hit  seyde, 
350  &  me  hit  may  in  boke  rede, 


32       Ctje  @tol  ana  rtje  j^igljtmgaie 

M  Eurich  )?ing  mai  losen  his  godhede 

mid  unme)?e  &  mid  ouer-dede." 

Mid  este  )?u  )?e  mi$t  ou*T-quatie, 

&  ou^r-fulle  make)?  wlatie : 
355  an  eurich  mure^e  mai  a-gon, 

31F  me  hit  halt  eure  for}?  in  on, 

bute  one,  J?at  is  Godes  riche, 

J?at  eure  is  svete  Sc  eure  i-liche : 

J?e$  J?u  nime  euere  o  [f]  )?an  lepe, 
360 hit  is  eure  ful  bi  hepe. 

Wu«d*r  hit  is  of  Godes  riche, 

J?at  eure  spen)?  &  eu^r  is  iliche. 
4  ^ut  ]?u  me  seist  an  o\er  shome, 

)?at  ich  [am]  on  mine  e^ew  lome, 
365  an  seist,  for  j?at  ich  flo  bi  ni^te, 

J?at  ich  ne  mai  iso  [bi  li}te] . 

pu  liest  !   on  me  hit  is  isene 

J?at  ich  habbe  gode  sene : 

vor  nis  non  so  dim  )?ustmiesse, 
37°j?at  ich  eu^r  iso  )?e  lasse. 

pu  wenest  )?at  ich  ne  mi^te  iso, 

vor  ich  bi  daie  no^t  ne  flo. 

pe  hare  lute)?  at  dai, 

ac  no)?eles  iso  he  mai. 
375  3 if  hundes  urnej?  to  him-ward, 

357  erased  letter  before  godes.  —  359  o\>.  —  364  an,  n  deleted, 
dash  {for  m)  over  a.  —  366   bilijte.  —  367  liest,  e  very  like  c. 


Ww  ®tol  ana  tlje  jptgfjtmgale       33 

Earich  J?ing  may  lesen  his  godhecfe 

Mid  vnmefe  and  ouerdede." 

Mid  este  J?u  J?e  maist  ou^r-quatie, 

&  ou<?r-fulle  makie)?  wlatie  : 
355  &  eumch  murej?e  may  a-gon, 

If  me  hit  halt  euer  in  on, 

Bute  one,  J?at  is  Godes  riche, 

pa[t]  euer  is  swete  &  euer  iliche  : 

peyh  J?u  nyme  [euer]  of  J?an  lepe, 
360  Hit  is  eu^r  ful  by  hepe. 

Wund^r  hit  is  of  Godes  ryche, 

pat  eu^r  spenj?  &  eu^r  is  iliche. 
c  Yet  ]?u  me  seyst  an  ojw  schome, 

pat  ich  a[m]  on  [m]yne  eye  lome, 
365  &  seyst,  for  J?at  ich  fleo  bi  nyhte, 

pat  ich  ne  may  i-seo  bi  lyhte. 

pu  liest !  on  me  hit  is  i-sene 

pat  ich  habbe  gode  sene : 

Vor  nys  no  so  dym  }?esternesse, 
370  pat  ich  eu*r  i-seo  J?e  lesse. 

pu  wenest  ]?at  ich  ne  mwe  iseo, 

Vor  ich  bi  daye  nouht  ne  fleo.        Fol.  231  v,  col.  2. 

pe  hare  lute]?  al  day, 

Ac  no)?eles  i-seo  he  may. 
375  If  hundes  eorne]?  to  him-ward, 

358  J?a.  —  359  nyme  of.  —  364  an ;  Myne. 


34       W$z  ®tol  ana  rt)e  jpigljtmgale 

He  gengj?  wel  sui)?e  awai-ward,      Fol.  235  V,  col.  2. 

&  hoke}?  pa)?es  svi)?e  narewe, 

&  haue)?  mid  \\\m  his  blenches  ^arewe, 

&  hup]?  &  stard  su)?e  coue, 
380 an  seche]?  pa)?es  to  J?e  groue : 

ne  sholde  he  uor  boj?e  his  e^e, 

so  don  }if  he  ]?e  bet  ni-se^e. 

Ich  mai  ison  so  wel  so  on  hare, 

)?e}  ich  bi  daie  sitte  an  dare. 
385  par  a^te  men  [bo]?]  in  worre, 

an  fare]?  bo]?e  ner  an  forre, 

an  ou^r-uarej?  fele  wode, 

an  do)?  bi  ni^te  gode  node, 

ich  fol^i  ]?an  a^te  manne, 
390  an  flo  bi  ni^te  in  hore  banne.' 
pe  ni^tingale  in  hire  j?o}te 

at-hold  al  ]?is,  &  longe  j?o}te 

wat  ho  J?ar-aft^r  mi^te  segge : 

vor  ho  ne  mi^te  nojt  alegge 
395  )?at  J>e  hule  hadde  hire  ised,    £ 

vor  he  spac  bo]?e  ri^t  an  red. 

An  hire  of-J?u3te  ]?at  ho  hadde 

]?e  speche  so  for  uor)?  iladde, 

an  was  oferd  )?at  hire  answare 
400  ne  wr]?e  no}t  arijt  i-fare. 

Ac  no]?eles  he  spac  boldeliche, 

376  last  letter  smudged.  —  385   bo)>e.  —  387  wode,  e  above 
after  o  in  different  ink,  —  388  node,  e  above  after  o  in  different  ink. 


W$t  <®tol  ana  tlje  jptgljtmgale       35 

He  genche)?  swi)?e  awey-ward, 

&  hoke)?  pa]?es  swi]?e  narewe, 

&  hauej?  mid  him  blenches  yarewe. 

He  huph]?  &  start  swij?e  cove, 
380  &  sechej?  pa]?es  to  J?e  groue : 

Ne  scholde  he  vor  bo  his  eye, 

So  do  if  he  ]?e  bet  ne  iseye. 

Ich  may  iseo  so  wel  so  on  hare, 

peyh  ich  bi  daye  sytte  a  dare. 
385  par  auhte  men  beo]?  in  worre, 

&  fare]?  bo]?e  neor  &  feorre, 

&  ouer-varej?  veole  J;eode, 

&  do)?  bi  nyhte  gode  neode, 

Ich  folewi  ]?ane  ahte  manne, 
390  &  fleo  bi  nyhte  \n  heore  barme.' 
pe  nyhtegale  \n  hire  ]?ouhte 

At-heold  al  ]?is,  &  longe  |?ouhte 

Hwat  heo  ]?ar-after  myhte  segge : 

Vor  heo  ne  myhte  noht  a-legge 
395  pat  J?e  vie  hedde  hire  i-seyd, 

Vor  ho  spak  boJ?e  riht  &  red. 

&  hire  of)?uhte  ]?at  heo  hadde 

pe  speche  so  feor  uorj?  iladde, 

&  wes  aferd  J?at  hire  answare 
400  Ne  wr]?e  nouht  a-riht  i-vare. 

Ac  no]?eles  heo  spak  boldeliche, 


36       tElje  @tol  ana  tfce  jftigtyingale 

vor  he  is  wis  )?at  hardeliche 

wij?  is  uo  ber)?  grete  ilete, 

)?at  he  uor  are^e  hit  ne  forlete : 
405  vor  suich  wor)?  bold  }if  ]?u  fli^ste, 

J?at  wle  flo  }if  J?u  vicst ; 

3if  he  isij?  J?at  ]?u  nart  are}, 

he  wile  of  bore  wrchen  bare}. 

&  for-J?i,  )?e}  j?e  ni}tingale 
4»owere  a-ferd,  ho  spac  bolde  tale.       Fol.  2361-,  col.  1. 
c  [H]ule,'  ho  seide,  l  wi  [dostu]  so? 

)?u  singest  a  winter  wola-wo  : 

}?u  singest  so  do)?  hen  asnowe, 

al  )?at  ho  singe)?  hit  is  for  wowe. 
41 5  A  wintfre  )?u  singest  wro)?e  &  }om*re, 

an  eure  )?u  art  dumb  a  sum^re. 

Hit  is  for  j?ine  fule  ni]?e, 

fat  j?u  ne  mi}t  mid  us  bo  bli)?e, 

vor  )?u  for-bernest  wel  ne}  for  onde 
420  wane  ure  blisse  cume|?  to  londe. 

pu  farest  so  do)?  J?e  ille, 

evrich  blisse  him  is  un-wille : 

grucching  &  luring  him  bo)?  rade, 

}if  he  isoj?  )?at  men  bo)?  glade. 
425  He  wolde  ]?at  he  ise^e 

teres  in  evrich  monnes  e}e  : 

405  suich,  i  deleted.  —  406  isvicst,  is  deleted.  —  408  ?  borq, 
?  0  altered  to  a  — 411  rubric  )>,  direction  it  h;  do  stu. — 416 
an,  later  d. 


W$t  ® tol  ana  tije  jpigtjtingale       3  7 

Vor  heo  is  wis  J?at  hardeliche 

Wi)?  his  fo  ber]?  grete  i-lete, 

[p]  at  he  for  areh)?e  hit  ne  for-lete : 
405  Vor  suych  worj?  bold  if  ]?u  flyhst, 

pat  wile  fleo  if  J?u  [ne]  swykst ; 

If  he  isih)?  ]?at  )?u  [n]art  areh,        Fol.  2321-,  col.  1. 

He  wile  of  bore  wurche  bareh. 

&  for-]?i,  )?ey  [}?e]  nyhtegale 
410  Were  a-ferd,  heo  spak  bolde  tale. 

4  [Vie] ,'  heo  seyde,  4  hwi  dostu  so  ? 

pu  singest  a  wynter  wolawo : 

pu  singest  so  do)?  hen  a  snowe, 

Al  )?at  heo  singe)?  hit  is  for  wowe. 
415  A  wintr*  J?u  singest  wro)?e  &  yom^re, 

&  eu*r  )?u  art  dumb  a  sumere. 

Hit  is  for  J?ine  fule  ny)?e, 

pat  J?u  ne  myht  myd  vs  be  bli)?e, 

Vor  J?u  forbernest  neyh  for  onde 
420  Hwenne  vre  blisse  cumej?  to  lond*. 

pu  farest  so  do)?  )?e  ille, 

Euer-ich  blisse  him  is  vnwille  : 

Grucching  h  luryng  him  beo)?  rade, 

If  he  iseo)?  )?at  men  beo)?  glade. 
425  He  wolde  ]?at  he  iseye 

Teres  \n  eumche  monnes  eye  : 

404   Hwat. — 406  J?a,  t  inserted  above  ;  \>u  swykst. — 407 
art.  —  409    \>cy    nyhtegale,     marg.   \>e. — 411    fvle,    direction 


38       Wfyt  ®tol  ana  t\)t  j^tgtjtingaie 

ne  ro^te  he  ]?e}  flockes  were 

imeind  bi  toppes  &  bi  here. 

Al  so  J?u  dost  on  )?ire  side  : 
43°vor  wanne  snov  lij?  J?icke  &  wide, 

an  alle  wi^tes  habbej?  soqe, 

]?u  singest  from  eue  fort  amorce. 

Ac  ich  alle  blisse  mid  me  bringe  : 

ech  wi}t  is  glad  for  mine  J>inge, 
435  &  blisse]?  hit  wanne  ich  cume, 

&  hi^tej?  a^en  mine  kume. 

pe  blostme  ginnej?  spr/nge  &  spraie, 

boj?e  ine  tro  &  ek  on  mede. 

pe  lilie  mid  hire  faire  wlite 
44°wolcume)?  me  )?at  j?u  hit  wte, 

bit  me  mid  hire  faire  bio 

J?at  ich  shulle  to  hire  flo. 

pe  rose  also  mid  hire  rude, 

}?at  cumej?  ut  of  )?e  J?orne  wode,      Fol.  2361-,  col.  2. 
445  bit  me  ]?at  ich  shulle  singe 

vor  hire  luue  one  skentinge: 

&  ich  so  do  J?uq  ni}t  &  dai, 

J?e  more  ich  singe  J?e  more  I  mai, 

an  skente  hi  mid  mine  songe, 
450  ac  no|?eles  no^t  ou<?r-longe ; 

wane  ich  iso  ]?at  men  bo);  glade, 

431    an,   later  d. — 437   be  blostme  on  erasure. — 441   bit,   t 
altered  to  d.  —  446  one  one,  former  one  deleted  —  449  an,  later  d. 


W$t  ®tol  ano  tije  jptgtjtingaie       39 

Ne  rouhte  [h]e  J?eyh  flockes  were 

Imeynd  bi  toppes  &  bi  here. 

Al  so  J?u  dost  on  J?ire  syde  : 
430  For  hwanne  snouh  li]?  J?ikke  &  wid*, 

&  alle  wihtes  habbej?  sorewe, 

pu  singest  from  eue  to  amorewe. 

Ac  ich  mid  me  alle  blisse  bringe : 

Ech  wiht  is  glad  for  myne  J?inge, 
435  &  blessej?  hit  hwenne  ich  cume, 

&  hihte)?  a-yeyn  myne  cume. 

pe  blostme  gynne]?  spr/nge  &  spridi, 

Bo]?e  in  treo  &  ek  in  mede. 

pe  lilie  myd  hire  fayre  [w]lite 
440  Welcome)?  me  )?eyh  Jm  hit  wite, 

Bid  me  myd  hire  fayre  bleo 

pat  ich  schulle  to  hire  fleo.  Fol.  232  r,  col.  2. 

pe  rose  also  myd  hire  rude, 

pat  cume]?  of  ]?e  ];orne  wode, 
445  Bit  me  ]?at  ich  schulle  singe 

For  hire  luue  one  skentynge: 

&  ich  so  do  J?ureh  nyht  &  day, 

pe  more  ich  singe  J?e  more  ich  may, 

&  skente  hi  myd  myne  songe, 
450  Ac  no]?eles  nouht  ouer-longe  ; 

Hwenne  ich  iseo  J?at  men  beo]?  glad*, 

427  rouhte  be  beyh.  —  439  wlite,  y  or  wen. 


40       Wqt  ®tol  anD  tlje  jpigtitingaU 

ich  nelle  J?at  hi  bon  to  sade ; 

[w]an  is  i-do  vor  wan  ich  com, 

ich  fare  agen  &  do  wisdom. 
455  Wane  mon  ho^ej?  of  his  sheue, 

an  falewi  cumej?  on  grene  leue, 

ich  fare  horn  &  nime  leue  : 

ne  recche  ich  no^t  of  winteres  reue. 

Wan  ich  iso  j?at  cumef  )?at  harde, 
460  ich  fare  horn  to  min  erde, 

an  habbe  bo]?e  luue  &  j>onc 

J?at  ich  her  com  &  hid^r  swonk. 

[W]an  min  erende  is  i-do, 

sholde  ich  bi-leue  ?  nai,  [w]arto? 
465vor  he  nis  no]?er  }ep  ne  wis, 

j?at  longe  abid  J?ar  him  nod  nis.' 
pos  hule  luste,  &  leide  an  hord 

al  J?is  mot,  word  after  word, 

an  after  }?o$te  hu  he  mi^te 
47°ansvere  uinde  best  mid  ri^te  : 

vor  he  mot  hine  ful  wel  bi-J;enche, 

]?at  is  a-ferd  of  plaites  wrenche. 
c  pv  aishest  me,'  }?e  hule  sede, 

1  wi  ich  a  winter  singe  &  grede. 
475  Hit  is  gode  monne  i-wone, 

an  was  from  J?e  worlde  frome, 

j?at  ech  god  man  his  frond  i-cnowe, 

453  ban,  no  dot. — 463  J?an,  no  dot. — 464  leue.}  Jurto,  no 
dot.  —  469  an,  later  d. 


W$t  ®tol  anb  t^e  jpigtjtingale       41 

Ich  nelle  ]?at  hi  beon  to  sade ; 

Hwenne  is  i-do  for  hwan  ich  com, 

Ich  vare  ayeyn  &  do  wisdom. 
455  Hwanne  mon  howiej?  of  his  sheue, 

&  falewi  cumej?  of  grene  leue, 

Ich  fare  horn  &  nyme  leue : 

Ne  recche  ich  nouht  of  wyntm  teone. 

Hwanne  ich  i-seo  )?at  cume]?  []?at  hard*], 
460  Ich  fare  horn  to  myn  erde, 

&  habbe  bo]?e  luue  &  J?onk 

pat  ich  her  com  &  hider  swonk. 

Hwanne  myn  erende  is  i-do, 

Scholde  ich  bi-leue  ?  nay,  hwar-to  ? 
465  Vor  he  nys  no)?er  yep  ne  wis, 

pat  longe  abid  J?ar  him  no  neod  is.' 
peos  vie  luste,  &  leyde  an  hord 

Al  }>is  mot,  word  after  word, 

And  after  J>ouhte  hw  heo  myhte 
47oOnswere  vynde  best  myd  rihte : 

Vor  he  mot  ful  wel  him  bi-]?enche, 

pat  is  aferd  of  playtes  wrenche. 
c  pv  ayssest  me,'  J?e  vie  seyde, 

c  Hwi  ich  a  winter  singe  &  grede. 
475  Hit  is  [gode  monne]  y-wune, 

&  was  from  j?e  worlde  frume, 

pat  ech  god  mow  his  frend  i-know^,  Fol.  232  v,  col.  1. 

459  t>*t  de  harde.  — 475  godemonne. 


42       W$t  ®tol  ana  t^e  jf>tg$tingale 

an  blisse  mid  horn  sume  J?rowe,     Fol.  236  v,  col.  1. 

in  his  huse  at  his  borde, 
480  mid  faire  speche  &  faire  worde. 

&  hure  &  hure  to  Cristes-masse, 

[w]ane  riche  &  poure,  more  &  lasse, 

singe]?  eundut  ni^t  &  dai, 

ich  horn  helpe  what  ich  mai. 
485  &  ek  ich  J?enche  of  o\er  }?inge, 

)?ane  to  pleien  o]?er  to  singe. 

Ich  habbe  herto  gode  ansuare 

an-on  iredi  &  al  }are : 

vor  sum^res-tide  is  [al  to  w]lonc, 
490  an  do)?  mis-reken  monnes  ]?onk : 

vor  he  ne  recj?  no^t  of  clen-nesse, 

al  his  J?o^t  is  of  gol-nesse  : 

vor  [none]  dor  no  leng  nabide]?, 

ac  eurich  upon  o)?er  ride]? : 
495  )?e  sulue  stottes  ine  )?e  stode, 

bo)?  bo)?e  wilde  &  mere-wode. 

&  ]?u  sulf  art  ]?ar-among, 

for  of  golnesse  is  al  ]?i  song, 

an  a$en  J?et  )?u  wit  teme, 
500  ]?u  art  wel  modi  &  wel  breme. 

Sone  so  J?u  hau  [e]  st  itrede, 

481  erasure  after  fir  it  hure.  — 482  }?ane,  no  dot.  — 486  pleien, 
en  on  smudge. — 489  alto  Hone,  no  dot.  —  493  none. — 495 
stottes,  first  t  like  c,  cp.  5Q4  ;  ine,  no  dot.  — 499  an,  later  d.  — 
501   haust,  e  inserted  in  different  ink  before  8. 


Wfyz  ®tol  ana  tlje  jpigtjtingale       43 

&  blissi  myd  heom  sume  J?row*?, 

In  his  huse  at  his  borde, 
480  Mid  fayre  speche  &  fayre  word*?. 

&  hure  &  hure  to  Cristes-masse, 

Hwenne  riche  &  poun?,  more  &  lasse, 

Singe]?  cundut  nyht  &  day, 

Ich  heom  helpe  hwat  ich  may. 
485  &  ek  ich  J?enche  of  o]?er  ]?inge, 

pane  to  pleye  o]?er  to  singe. 

Ich  habbe  her-to  god  onsware 

Anon  i-redi  and  al  ware  : 

Vor  sum^restyde  is  al  wlonk, 
490  &  do]?  mysreken  monnes  ]?onk : 

Vor  he  ne  rek]?  noht  of  clennesse, 

Al  his  ]?ouht  is  of  golnesse  : 

Vor  none  dor  no  leng  nabide]?, 

Ac  eumch  vp  o]?er  ride]? : 
495  pe  sulue  stottes  yne  ]?e  stode, 

Be)?  bo]?e  wilde  and  marewod*. 

&  J?u  sulf  art  ]?ar-among, 

Vor  of  golnysse  is  al  ]?i  song, 

&  ayeyn  []?et  ]?u  wilt  teme] , 
500  pu  art  wel  modi  &  wel  breme. 

Sone  so  ]?u  hauest  i-trede, 

494  before  Ac  marg.  &.  — 499  &  ayeyn  J>u  wilt  teme  }>eL 


44       W$t  @tol  ana  t\)t  jpigtjtmgale 

ne  mi}tu  leng  a  word  i-que)?e, 

ac  pipest  al  so  doj?  a  mose, 

mid  chokeringe  mid  steune  hose. 
505  Jet  J?u  singst  worse  J?on  )?e  hei-sugge, 

[J?]  at  fli})?  bi  grunde  among  J?e  stubbe : 

wane  J?i  lust  is  a-go, 

J?onne  is  J?i  song  a-go  also. 

A  sum^re  chorles  a-wedej? 
510  &  uor-crempe)?  &  uor-bredej? : 

hit  nis  for  luue  no)?eles, 

ac  is  )?e  chorles  wode  res ;  Fol.  236  v,  col.  a. 

vor  wane  he  hauej?  i-do  his  dede, 

i-fallen  is  al  his  bold-hede, 
Sishabbe  he  is  tunge  under  gore, 

ne  last  his  luue  no  leng  more. 

Al  so  hit  is  on  J?ine  mode: 

so  sone  so  J?u  sittest  abrode, 

J?u  for-lost  al  J?ine  wise. 
52° Al  so  j?u  farest  on  J?ine  rise: 

wane  J?u  hauest  i-do  ]?i  gome, 

]?i  steune  gof>  [anon]  to  shome. 

Ac  [w]ane  ni^tes  cumej;  longe, 

&  b[r]ingej?  forstes  starke  an  stronge, 
52sJ?anne  erest  hit  is  isene 

502  i  que^e,  later  d  above. —  506  jat.  —  508  erasure  after 
song.  —  513  crook  above  wen  or  \>.  —  515  after  is  long  s  above. 
—  516  later  crook  for  er  after  leng.  —  522  a  non.  —  523  }>ane, 
no  dot.  —  524  binge}?,  r  interlined  in  different  ink. 


Wfyt  ®tol  anD  tlje  jpigijtingale      45 

Ne  myht  ]?u  leng  a  word  i-q#*J?e, 

Ac  pipest  al  so  do]?  a  mose, 

Mid  cokeringe  mid  stefne  hose. 
5®iYef    ji  singest  wrs^  J>an  |?e  hey-sugge, 

pae  flyhj?  bi  gr«nde  a-mowg  j?e  stubby  : 

Hwenne  )?i  lust  is  a-go, 

penne  is  J?i  song  ago  al  so. 

A  sum^re  chorles  [aweyde]?] 
510&  uorcrempe)?  &  uorbredej? : 

Hit  nys  for  luue  no]?eles,  Fol.  232  V,  col.  2. 

Ac  is  ]?eos  cherles  wode  res; 

Vo[r]  hwanne  he  hauej;  i-do  his  dede, 

Ifalle  is  al  his  boldhede, 
SisHabbe  he  is  tunge  vnder  gore, 

Ne  last  his  luue  no  leng  more. 

Al  so  hit  is  on  J?ine  mode  : 

So  sone  so  )?u  sittest  a  brode, 

pu  for-leost  al  ]?ine  wise. 
520  Al  so  J?u  varest  on  J?ine  ryse  : 

Hwenne  J?u  hauest  i-do  J?i  gome, 

pi  stefne  go)?  [anon]  to  schome. 

Ac  hwenne  nyhtes  cume)?  longe, 

&  bryngej?  forstes  starke  &  stronge, 
525  panne  erest  hit  is  i-sene 

505  gge  abc-ve  line  for  lack  of  space.  —  509  a  wey  dej>.  —  513 
Vo.  —  522  a  non. 


46       &ty  ®tol  ana  tfce  j^tgljtmgaU 

war  is  )?e  snelle,  [w]ar  is  ]?e  kene. 

At  ]>an  harde  me  mai  auinde 

[w]o  ge]?  for)?,  wo  lij?  bi-hinde. 

Me  mai  i-son  at  J?are  node, 
53°  [w]an  me  shal  harde  wike  bode, 

Jeanne  ich  am  snel,  &  pleie  &  singe, 

&  hi^te  me  mid  mi  skentinge : 

of  none  wint^re  ich  ne  recche, 

vor  ich  nam  non  a-svnde  wrecche. 
535  &  ek  ich  frouri  uele  wi^te 

j?at  mid  horn  nabbed  none  mi^tte : 

hi  bo)?  ho^-fule  &  uel  arme, 

an  seche]?  ^orne  to  J?e  warme ; 

oft  ich  singe  uor  horn  ]?e  more 
540  for  lutli  sum  of  hore  sore. 

Hu  ]?incj?  J;e  ?    artu  $ut  i-nume  ? 

[Artu]  mid  ri}te  ouer-cume  ?  ' 
'  Nay,  nay, '  sede  )>e  ni^tingale, 

cJ?u  shalt  ihere  ano]?fr  tale  : 
545  ^et  nis  J?os  speche  ibro^t  to  dome. 

Ac  bo  wel  stille,  &  lust  nu  to  me  :  Fol.  237  r,  col.  1. 

ich  shal  mid  one  bare  worde 

do  )?at  J?i  speche  [wurj>]  for-wor]?e.' 
c  pat  nere  noht  ri}t,'  )?e  hule  sede, 
5501  )?u  hauest  bi-cloped  al  so  ]?u  bede, 

526  second  war,  no  dot.  —  528  first  wen,  no  dot.  —  530  \>zn,  no 
dot.  —  538  an,  later  d.  —  541  inune,  n  altered  to  m  by  ?  orig. 
hand.  —  542  ar  tu.  —  548  J>at,  deleted  >at  follows  j  wrht. 


W$t  @toi  ana  c^e  jptgijtmgale       47 

Hwar  is  J>e  snelle,  hwar  J?e  kene. 

At  j?an  harde  me  may  a-vynde 

Hwo  go]?  forj?,  hwo  lyj?  bi-hynd^. 

Me  may  i-seon  at  ]?are  neode, 
53oHwan  me  schal  harde  wike  beod<?, 

panne  ich  am  snel,  &  pleye  &  singe, 

&  hyhte  me  myd  my  skentinge  : 

Of  none  wyntre  ich  ne  recche, 

Vo  [r]  ich  nam  non  a-swund*?  wrecche. 
535  &  ek  ich  froueri  fele  wihte 

pat  myd  heo7fl  nabbe]?  none  [m]  ihte : 

Hi  beoj?  houhful  &  wel  arme, 

And  seche]?  yorne  to  )?en  warme ; 

Ofte  ich  singe  for  hem  pe  more 
540  For  lutly  sum  of  heore  sore. 

Hw  JnnkJ?  }>e  ?    [artu  yet  inome]  ? 

[Artu]  myd  rihte  ouer-cume  ? ' 
c  Nay,  nay,'  seyde  J?e  [n]  ihtegale, 

'  pu  schalt  i-here  on  o]?er  tale  : 
545  Yet  nis  )?eos  speche  ibroht  to  dome.        Fol.  2331-, 

Ac  be  stille,  and  lust  nv  to  me :  co1-  '■ 

Ich  schal  mid  one  bare  worde 

Do  J?at  J?i  speche  wr|?  for-wur^e.' 
'  pat  nere  noht  riht,'  )?e  vie  seyde, 
55ocpu  hauest  bi-cleped  al  so  J>u  bede, 

526  >e,  e  much  like  v,  cp.  Jjg.  —  534  Vo.  —  536  Mihte.  — ■ 
539  J>e,  e  much  like  v.  —  541  ar  tu  inome,  inome  in  later  hand. 
—  542  Ar  tu.  —  543  Nihtegale. 


48       tEtje  @tol  ana  t\)t  j^tgtjtmgaU 

an  ich  J?e  habbe  i-^iue  ansuare. 

Ac  ar  we  to  unk^r  dome  fare, 

ich  wille  speke  to-ward  [)?]e 

al  so  ]?u  speke  to-ward  me ; 
555  an  j?u  me  ansuare  ^if  J?u  mi$t. 

Seie  me  nu,  )?u  wrecche  wi$t, 

is  in  )?e  eni  oJ?*r  note 

bute  j?u  hauest  schille  );rote  ? 

pu  nart  no^t  to  non  o\er  }>inge, 
560 bute  \m  canst  of  chatmnge  : 

vor  )?u  art  lutel  an  un-strong, 

an  nis  \\  re^el  no-J?ing  long. 

Wat  dostu  godes  among  monne  ? 

Na  mo  )?e  dej?  a  w  [re]  cche  wranne. 
56sOf  )?e  ne  cumej?  non  o]?er  god, 

bute  Jju  gredest  suich  J?u  bo  wod : 

an  bo  j?i  piping  ouer-go, 

ne  bo)?  on  )?e  craftes  namo. 

Alured  sede,  ]?at  was  wis, 
57ohe  mi^te  wel,  for  so}?  hit  is, 

"  Nis  no  man  for  is  bare  songe 

lof  ne  wrj?  no^t  suj?e  longe : 

vor  }?at  is  a  for-wor]?e  man 

J?at  bute  singe  no$t  ne  can." 
575  pu  nart  bute  on  for-worJ;e  j?ing : 

553  ^e>  f>  on  m-  — 555  t>u  on  erasure  ;  ansuare,  second  a  <&- 
/ettJ,  e  tf£oT*  /«  different  ink.  —  561,  562  an,  /attr  d.  —  564  mo, 
later  re  above  ;  wercche.  —  574  gan,  g  deleted,  ?  cr/g.  c  above. 


W$t  @tol  ana  tlje  jliigtitmgale       49 

And  ich  J?e  habbe  iyue  onswere. 

Ac  are  we  to  vnker  dome  fare, 

Ich  wile  speke  toward  j?e 

Al  so  J?u  speke  toward  me ; 
555  &  J?u  me  onswere  if  J?u  myht. 

Sey  me  nv,  jm  wrecche  wiht, 

Is  in  J?e  eny  oJ?er  note 

Bute  \\x  hauest  schille  ]?rote  ? 

pu  nart  nouht  to  non  o]>er  ]?inge, 
560  Bute  )>\i  canst  of  chateringe  : 

Vor  J?u  art  lutel  and  vnstrong, 

&  nys  J?i  ryel  nowiht  long. 

Hwat  dostu  godes  a-mo«g  monne  ? 

Na  mo  j?ene  do}?  a  wrecche  wrenne0 
565  Of  )?e  ne  cume]?  non  oJ?er  god, 

Bute  j?u  gredest  swich  Jm  be  wod : 

&  beo  J?i  piping  ouer-go, 

Ne  beoj?  on  J?e  craftes  na  mo. 

Alured  seyde,  ]?at  wes  wis, 
570  He  myhte  wel,  for  so)?  hit  is, 

M  Nis  nomon  for  his  bare  songe 

Leof  ne  wr]?  noht  swi)?e  longe  : 

Vor  j?at  is  o  fur-wr]?e  man 

pat  bute  singe  naht  ne  can." 
575  pu  nart  bute  o  fur-wrj?e  ]?ing : 


50       tElje  @tol  ana  ttje  j^tgtjtmgale 

on  )?e  nis  bute  chatmng. 

pu  art  dim  an  of  fule  howe, 

an  J?inchest  a  lutel  soti  clowe. 

pu  nart  fair,  no  J?u  nart  strong, 
58one  J?u  nart  )?icke,  ne  )?u  nart  lo«g:  Foi.  237^  col.  2. 

J?u  hauest  imist  al  of  fair-hede, 

an  lutel  is  al  j?i  god-ede. 

An  o)?er  j?ing  of  )?e  ich  mene, 

J?u  nart  vair  ne  )?u  nart  clene. 
585  Wane  )?u  cumest  to  mawne  ha^e, 

J?ar  J?ornes  bo)?  &  ris  i-dra^e, 

bi  hegge  &  bi  J?icke  wode, 

J?ar  men  go)?  oft  to  hore  node, 

J?ar-to  )?u  dra^st,  )?ar-to  J?u  wnest, 
590 an  o)?er  clene  stede  )?u  schunest. 

[W]an  ich  flo  ni}tes  aher  muse, 

I  mai  )?e  uinde  ate  ruw-huse; 

among  )?e  wode,  amowg  )?e  netle, 

[?u  sittest  &  singst  bihinde  J?e  setle  : 
595)?ar  me  mai  ]?e  ilomest  iinde, 

j?ar  men  vvorpe)?  hore  bi-hinde. 

Jet  ]?u  at-uitest  me  mine  mete, 

an  seist  )?at  ich  fule  wi^tes  ete. 

Ac  wat  etestu,  )?at  )?u  ne  li^e, 
600  bute  att^r-coppe  &  fule  uli^e  ? 

an  wormes,  }if  )?u  mi^te  finde 

577,  582  an,  later  d.  —  591   )>an,  no  dot.  —  594  setle,  t  very 
like  c,  cp.  4<?j. 


Wot  @tol  attti  i\z  jftigtjttttgak       5 1 

On  j?e  nys  bute  chateryng. 

pu  art  dym  &  of  fule  heowe, 

&  ]?inchest  a  lytel  soty  clewe. 

pu  nart  fayr,  ne  J?u  nart  stro«g,     Foi.  233  r,  col.  a. 
580 Ne  )?u  nart  J?ikke,  ne  J?u  nart  long: 

pu  hauest  ymyst  of  fayrhede, 

&  lutel  is  j?i  godhede. 

An  o)?er  ping  of  ]?e  ich  mene, 

pu  [n]art  feyr  ne  J?u  nart  clene. 
585  Hwanne  J?u  cumest  to  mo/me  hawe, 

par  pornes  beop  &  ris  i-drawe, 

Bi  hegge  &  bi  )?ikke  weode, 

par  men  goj?  to  heore  neode, 

par-to  )?u  draust,  []?ar-]to  j?u  wenst, 
590  &  o]?er  clene  stude  J?u  schunest. 

Hwanne  ich  fleo  nyhtes  after  muse, 

Ich  may  ]?e  vinde  at  J?e  ruw-huse ; 

Amowg  )?e  wede,  amowg  ]?e  netle, 

pu  syttest  &  singst  bi-hinde  []>e]  seotle : 
595  par  me  ]?e  may  ilomest  fynde, 

par  men  worpej?  heore  by-hinde. 

Yet  J?u  at-witest  me  myne  mete, 

&  seyst  J?at  ich  fule  wyhtes  ete. 

Ac  hwat  etestu,  pat  )?u  ne  lye, 
600  Bute  atter-coppe  &  fule  vlye  ? 

&  wurmes,  if  \\x  myht  fynde 

584  J?u  art,  —  589  bart  to.  —  594  bi  hinde  seotle. 


52       W$t  ®fcol  ana  ttje  jiatgijtmgale 

among  ]?e  uolde  of  harde  rinde  ? 

Jet  ich  can  do  wel  gode  wike, 

vor  ich  can  loki  manne  wike : 
605  an  mine  wike  bo]?  wel  gode, 

vor  ich  helpe  to  manne  uode. 

Ich  can  nime«  mus  at  berne, 

an  ek  at  chirche  ine  J?e  derne : 

vor  me  is  lof  to  Cristes  huse, 
6 10  to  clansi  hit  wi];  fule  muse, 

ne  schal  J?ar  neure  come  to 

ful  wi}t,  }if  ich  hit  mai  iuo. 

An  }if  me  lust  one  mi  skentinge 

to  wernen  o)?er  wnienge,  Fol.  237  v,  col.  1. 

615  ich  habbe  at  wude  tron  wel  gr^te, 

mit  J?icke  bo$e  no-]?ing  blete, 

mid  iui  grene  al  bi-growe, 

J?at  eure  stont  i-liche  iblowe, 

an  his  hou  neu^r  ne  uor-lost, 
620  wan  hit  sniuw  ne  wan  hit  frost. 

par-in  ich  habbe  god  ihold, 

a  winter  warm  a  sum^re  cold. 

Wane  min  hus  stont  bri^t  &  grene, 

of  )?ine  nis  no-J?ing  isene. 
62S  Jet  \w  me  telst  of  o\er  )?inge, 

of  mine  briddes  seist  gabbinge, 

j?at  hore  nest  nis  no$t  clene. 

608  an,  later  d.  —  612  deleted  do  after  mai.  — 619  an,  later  d. 


Wot  ®tol  ana  t^e  jlitg^tingale       53 

Amowg  |?e  volde  of  harde  rynde  ? 

Yet  ich  can  do  wel  gode  wike, 

For  ich  can  loki  monne  wike: 
605  &  mine  wike  beo]?  wel  gode, 

For  ich  helpe  to  monne  vode. 

Ich  can  nyme  [m]us  at  berne, 

&  ek  at  chireche  in  ]?e  derne: 

For  me  is  leof  to  Cristes  huse, 
6 10  To  clansi  hit  wi]?  fule  [m]use, 

Ne  schal  J?ar  neu^r  cume  to 

Ful  wiht,  if  ich  hit  may  i-vo. 

&  if  me  lust  on  my  skenting  Fol.  233  v,  col.  1. 

To  wernen  o|?e  [r]  wunying, 
615  Ich  habbe  at  wod<?  treon  grete, 

Mid  ];ikke  bowe  noting  blete, 

Mid  ivi  gmie  al  bi-growe, 

pat  eu^r  stont  iliche  iblowe, 

&  his  heou  neu^r  ne  uorleost, 
62oHwanne  hit  snywe  ne  [hwanne  hit]  frost. 

par-inne  ic  habbe  god  ihold, 

A  wintn?  warm  a  sum^re  cold. 

pane  myn  hus  stowt  briht  &  gmie, 

Of  j?ine  nys  nowiht  isene. 
625  Yet  J?u  me  telst  of  o\er  )?inge, 

Of  myne  briddes  seyst  gabbiwge, 

pat  heore  [nest]   nys  nouht  clene. 

607  Mus.  —  610  Muse.  —  614  obe.  —  620  ne  frost.  —  627 
heore  nys. 


54       ®i>e  ®tol  ana  t^e  jfttgljtmgale 

Hit  is  fale  oJ?*r  wi$te  i-mene : 

vor  hors  a  stable,  &  oxe  a  stalle, 
630  bo}?  al  j?at  horn  wule  )?ar  falle. 

An  lutle  children  in  ]?e  cradele, 

bo];e  chorles  an  ek  aj?ele, 

boj?  al  J?at  in  hore  }oe|?e 

J?at  hi  uor-lete]?  in  hore  du}e)?e. 
635  Wat !  can  ]?at  pngling  hit  bi-hede  ? 

3  if  hit  mis-de)?,  hit  mod  nede  : 

a  uor-bisne  is  of  olde  i-wrne, 

Q>]  at  node  make);  old  wif  urne. 

An  $et  ich  habbe  an  o\er  andsware : 
64owiltu  to  mine  neste  uare, 

an  loki  hu  hit  is  i-di^t  ? 

J  if  J>u  art  wis  lorni  )?u  mi^st : 

mi  nest  is  hoi}  &  rum  amidde, 

so  hit  is  softest  mine  bridde. 
645  Hit  is  broiden  al  abute, 

vrom  J?e  neste  uor  wi)?-ute : 

}?arto  hi  god  to  hore  node, 

ac  )?at  \m  menest  ich  horn  for-bode.        Fol.  137  v, 

We  nime]?  ^eme  of  manne  bure,  co1-  *■ 

650  an  aft^r  ]?an  we  make)?  ure  : 

men  habbet,  among  oper  i-wende, 

a  ruw-hus  at  hore  bures  ende, 

vor  ]?at  hi  nelle);  to  uor  go, 

637  uo  bisne,  ?  orig.   r  inserted.  —  638  bat,   b  dotted. — 64a 
mi^st  on  attached  piece  of  •vellum. 


W$t  <Dtol  ana  ttje  j]itgl)tmgale       55 

Hit  is  fale  o)?er  wihte  imene  : 

Vor  hors  a  stable,  &  oxe  a  stalle, 
630  Do]?  al  ]?at  heow  wile  )?ar  valle. 

&  lutle  childre  in  J?e  cradele, 

Bo]?e  cheorles  &  ek  a)?ele, 

Do)?  al  J?at  i?/  heore  youh)?e 

pat  hi  uor-letej?  in  heore  duh)?e. 
635  Hwat !  can  ]?at  yongling  hit  bined*  ? 

Yf  hit  mys[d]e)?,  hit  mot  nede  : 

A  vorbisne  is  of  olde  iwurne, 

pat  neod*  make]?  old  wif  eorne. 

&  yet  ich  habbe  an  o)?er  onswere : 
64oWiltu  to  myne  neste  vare, 

&  loki  hw  hit  is  i-diht? 

If  j?u  art  wis  leorny  ]?u  mist : 

Mi  nest  is  holeuh  &  rum  amidd/?, 

So  hit  is  softest  myne  bridde. 
645  Hit  is  ibroyde  al  a-bute, 

Vrom  ]?e  nest*  ueor  wi)?-vte : 

par-to  hi  go)?  to  heore  neode, 

Ac  [hwat]  )?u  menest  ich  heom  for-bode.   Fol.  233 

[W]e  yeme  nyme)?  of  manne  bure,  v,  col.  2. 

650  &  after  )?an  we  makie]?  vre : 

Men  habbe)?  a-mo«g  o)?re  iwende, 

A  rutfz-hus  at  heore  bures  ende, 

Vor  J?at  hi  nelle)?  to  veor  go, 

636  myskej).  —  648  Ac  J>u.  —  649  J?e,  J?  or  wen. 


56       tE^e  ®tol  ana  tlje  jpigtytingale 

an  mine  briddes  do)?  al  so. 
655  Site  nu  stille,  chaterestre  : 

nere  ]?u  neu^r  ibunde  uastre ; 

her-to  ne  uindestu  neu^r  andsware. 

Hong  up  )?in  ax,  nu  )?u  mi}t  fare  ! ' 
pe  ni^tingale  at  J^isse  worde 
660  was  wel  ne$  ut  of  rede  i-wor)?e, 

an  ]?o}te  jorne  on  hire  mode 

}if  ho  o^t  elles  under-stode, 

}if  ho  ku]?e  o}t  bute  singe, 

J?at  mi^te  helpe  to  o)?er  }?inge. 
665  Herto  ho  moste  and-swere  uinde, 

o)?er  mid  alle  bon  bi-hinde : 

an  hit  is  su)?e  strong  to  fi^te 

a^en  so)?  &  a^en  ri^te. 

He  mot  gon  to  al  mid  ginne, 
67o)?an  )?e  horte  bo)?  on  [w]inne: 

an  )?e  man  mot  on  o)?er  segge, 

he  mot  bi-hemmen  &  bi-legge, 

}if  rauf  wi)?-ute  mai  bi-wro 

)?at  me  )?e  horte  no^t  ni-so  : 
67  5  an  sone  mai  a  word  mis-reke 

)?ar  mu)?  shal  a^en  horte  speke ; 

an  sone  mai  a  word  mis-storte 

)?ar  mu]?  shal  speken  a^en  horte. 

Ac  no]?eles  }ut  upe  )?on, 

660  Utter  erased  after  nej.  —  670  wen,  no  dot.  — 679  no\>t- 
Ies,  jut,  J>,  3,  smudged. 


tTOtie  ®tol  ana  ttie  jliigfttingale        57 

&  myne  briddes  doj?  al  so. 
655Syte  nv  stille,  chaterestre : 

Nere  ]?u  neuer  ibunde  vastre; 

Her-to  ne  vyndestu  neuer  answere. 

Hong  up  ]?in  ax,  nv  J;u  miht  fare  ! ' 
pe  [n]ihtegale  at  jnsse  worde 
660  Was  wel  neyh  ut  of  rede  iwor)>e, 

&  |?ouhte  yorne  on  hire  mode 

Yf  heo  ouht  elles  vnder-stode, 

If  heo  cu]?e  ouht  bute  singe, 

pat  myhte  helpe  to  oper  ]?inge. 
665  Her-to  heo  moste  answere  vynde, 

0]?er  mid  alle  beon  bi-hinde : 

&  hit  is  [swi|?e]  strong  to  vyhte 

Ayeyn  so)?e  &  ayeyn  rihte. 

He  mot  gon  to  al  mid  gynne, 
67oHwan  ]?e  horte  beoj?  on  [w] inner 

&  ]?e  man  mot  o];er  segge, 

He  mot  bi-hewme  &  bi-legge, 

If  muj?  wi)?-vte  may  bi-wreo 

pat  me  |;e  horte  nouht  ni-seo  : 
67S  &  sone  may  a  word  mys-reke 

par  mu|?  schal  ayeyn  horte  speke ; 

&  sone  may  a  word  mys-sturte 

par  muj?  schal  speke  ayeyn  horte. 

Ac  [no];eles  hyet]  upe  ]?on, 

659  Nihtegale.  — 665  vynde,  i  altered  to  y.  — 667  is  strong. 
—  670  fnnne,  \>  or  wen.  —  679  nof>eles  b  hyet. 


58       W$t  ®tol  ant)  ttie  j^ig^tingale 

680  her  is  to  red  wo  hine  kon: 

vor  neuer  nis  wit  so  kene 

so  [w]ane  red  him  is  awene.  Fol.  238  r,  col.  1. 

panne  erest  kumed  his  ^ep-hede 

wone  hit  is  alre-mest  on  drede; 
685  for  Aluered  seide  of  olde  quide, 

an  31U  hit  nis  of  horte  islide, 

4  Wone  J>e  bale  is  alre-hecst, 

]?onne  is  )?e  bote  alre-necst : ' 

vor  wit  west  among  his  sore, 
690  an  for  his  sore  hit  is  )?e  more. 

Vor-]?i  nis  neu^re  mon  redles 

ar  his  horte  bo  witles  : 

ac  }if  )?at  he  forlost  his  wit, 

}>onne  is  his  red-purs  [al  to-]  slit ; 
695  }if  he  ne  kon  his  wit  at-holde, 

ne  uint  he  red  in  one  uolde. 

Vor  Alrud  seide  )?at  wel  kuj?e, 

eure  he  spac  mid  so]?e  muj?e, 

4  Wone  ]?e  bale  is  alre-hecst, 
7oo)?anne  is  |?e  bote  alre-nest.' 
pe  ni^tingale  al  hire  ho^e 

mid  rede  hadde  wel  bito^e, 

among  ]?e  harde,  amowg  )?e  to^te, 

ful  wel  mid  rede  hire  bi-J^te, 

680  her  -very  like  het.  — 682  bane,  no  dot ;  awene,  wen  very 
like  y.  —  686  an  sut  jut,  sut  deleted.  — 688  erasures  after  bonne 
and  is.  —  694  alto. 


W$t  ®tol  ana  tt>e  jfttgljtmgaU       59 

680  Her  is  to  red  hwo  hyne  con  : 

Vor  neuer  nys  wit  so  kene 

So  hwanne  red  him  is  a  wene. 

panne  erest  cumej?  his  yephed*      Fol.  234  r,  col.  1. 

Hwewne  hit  is  alremest  on  dred*; 
685  For  Alured  seyde  of  olde  quide, 

&  hyet  hit  nis  of  horte  islide, 

'  Hwenne  J?e  bale  is  alre-hekst, 

penne  is  J?e  bote  alre-nest : ' 

Vor  [w]it  [w]est  a-mo»g  his  sore, 
690  &  for  his  sore  hit  is  j?e  more. 

Vor-]?i  nis  neu^r  mon  redles 

Ar  his  horte  beo  witles  : 

Ac  if  he  fur-leost  his  wit, 

penne  is  his  red-pwrs  al  to-slyt ; 
695  If  he  ne  con  his  wit  at-holde, 

N[e]  vynt  he  red  in  none  volde. 

Vor  Alured  seyde  J?at  wel  cuj?e, 

Euer  he  spak  mid  soJ?e  muj?e, 

4  Hwenne  ]?e  bale  is  alre-hekst, 
7oopenne  is  j?e  bote  alre-nexst.' 

pe  [njihtegale  al  [hire  howe] 

Mid  rede  hadde  wel  bi-towe, 

Among  ]?e  hard*,  amowg  )?e  towehte, 

Ful  wel  myd  rede  hire  bi-[?ouhte, 

689  yit  yest.  —  696  N  vynt.  —  701   \e  Nihtegale  al  hit,  rat 
omitted.  —  703  towehte,  hte  above  line  for  space. 


60       C^e  @tol  ant)  t\)t  jftig^tmgale 

705  an  hadde  andsuere  gode  i-funde 

among  al  hire  harde  stunde. 

c[H]ule,  ]?u  axest  me,'  ho  seide, 

4  }if  ich  kon  eni  o]?er  dede 

bute  singen  in  sume  tide, 
710  an  bringe  blisse  for  &  wide. 

Wi  axestu  of  craftes  mine  ? 

Betere  is  min  on  ]?an  alle  )?ine, 

bet^re  is  o  song  of  mine  mu]?e, 

)?an  al  J?at  eure  ]n  kun  kup>e : 
715  an  lust,  ich  telle  J?e  ware-uore. 

Wostu  to  wan  man  was  ibore?      Fol.  238  r,  col.  2. 

To  ]?are  blisse  of  houene-riche, 

J?ar  eu*r  is  song  &  mur;)7e  iliche: 

]}[der  funde);  eurich  man 
72o]?at  eni  ]?ing  of  gode  kan. 

Vor-jn  me  sing]?  in  holi-chirche, 

an  clerkes  ginne]?  songes  wirche, 

]?at  man  i-Jjenche  bi  )?e  songe 

wid^r  he  shal,  &  ]?ar  bon  longe; 
725)?at  he  )>e  mur^e  ne  uor^ete, 

ac  )?ar-of  )?enche  &  bi-^ete, 

an  nime  ^eme  of  chirche-steuene 

hu  murie  is  J?e  blisse  of  houene. 

Clerkes,  munekes,  &  kanunes, 
73o|;ar  boj?  J?os  gode  wicke-tunes, 

707  Nule,  rubric  N. 


W$t  ®toi  ana  t\)t  j£igi)tmgaU       61 

705  &  hedde  onswere  god  i-funde 

Amowg  alle  hire  harde  stunde. 
c[U]le,  J?u  axest  me,'  heo  seyde, 

4  [I]  f  ich  con  eny  o)?er  dede 

Bute  syngen  in  sume  tyde, 
710  &  bringe  blisse  veor  &  wyde. 

Hwy  axestu  of  craftes  myne  ? 

Beter  is  myn  on  ]?an  alle  J>ine, 

Bet^r  is  o  song  of  myne  mu]?e, 

pan  al  J?at  [evre]  J?i  kun  ku]?e  : 
715  &  lust,  ich  telle  J?e  hwar-vore. 

Wostu  to  hwan  mon  wes  i-bore? 

To  j?are  blisse  of  heueryche, 

par  euer  is  song  &  [m]ureh]?e  i-lyche:  Fol.  234  r, 

pider  fundej;  euer-ich  man  co1-  2- 

720  pat  eny  J?ing  of  gode  can. 

For-]?i  me  syng]?  in  holy-chireche, 

&  clerekes  gynnej?  songes  wrche, 

pat  mon  y-^enche  bi  J?e  songe 

H wider  he  shal,  &  ]?ar  ben  longe; 
725  pat  he  J?e  murehj?e  ne  vor-yete, 

Ac  )?ar-of  J?enche  &  bi-ge  [te]  , 

&  nyme  yeme  of  chirche-stefne 

Hw  [m]urie  is  ]?e  blisse  of  heuene. 

Clerekes,  [m]unekes,  &  canunes, 
730  par  beoj?  J?os  gode  wike-tunes, 

707,  708  initials    omitted.  —  714  }>at  \>\.  —  718  MurehJ>e.  — 
726  gethe.  —  728  Murie.  —  729  Munekes. 


62       Wqt  ®fol  ant)  t^e  jpigfttingaie 

arise]?  up  to  midel-ni^te, 

an  singe)?  of  ]?e  houene-li^te  : 

an  prostes  upe  londe  singe)?, 

wane  )?e  li^t  of  daie  springe)?. 
735  An  ich  horn  helpe  wat  I  mai, 

ich  singe  mid  horn  ni^t  &  dai, 

an  ho  bo)?  alle  for  me  )?e  gladdere, 

an  to  )?e  songe  bo)?  )?e  raddere. 

Ich  warni  men  to  here  gode 
74o)?at  hi  bon  bli]?e  on  hore  mode, 

an  bidde  J?at  hi  moten  iseche 

]?an  ilke  song  )?at  eu^r  is  eche. 

Nu  )?u  mi}t,  hule,  sitte  &  clinge ; 

her-among  nis  no  chatmnge  : 
745  ich  graunti  )?at  [w]e  go  to  dome 

to-fore  )?e  [sulfe  Pope]  of  Rome. 

Ac  abid  $ete,  no-)?e-les, 

)?u  shalt  ihere  an  o)?er  [w]es  : 

ne  shaltu,  for  Engelonde, 
750 at  )?isse  worde  me  at-stonde.  Fol.  238  v,  col.  1. 

Wi  at-uitestu  me  mine  un-streng)?e, 

an  mine  ungrete,  &  mine  unleng)?e, 

an  seist  )?at  ich  nam  no^t  strong, 

vor  ich  nam  noJ?*r  gret  ne  long  ? 
755  Ac  )?u  nost  neu^r  wat  )?u  menst, 

bute  lese  wordes  )?u  me  lenst : 

745  t>ei  no  d°('  —  746  be  sulfe  \>e  pope.  —  748  J>es,  no  dot. 


W$t  @tol  ana  ttje  jptgljtmgale       63 

AriseJ?  vp  to  middel-nyhte, 

&  singe]?  of  J?on  heuene-lyhte  : 

&  preostes  vpe  londe  singe]?, 
*         *  *  *  « 

735  &  ich  heom  helpe  hwat  ic  may, 

Ich  singe  myd  hem  nyht  &  day, 

&  heo  beoj?  alle  for  me  ]?e  gladd^re, 

&  to  ]?e  songe  beo]?  ]?e  raddure. 

Ich  warny  men  to  heore  gode 
740  pat  hi  beon  bly)?e  on  heore  mode, 

&  bidden  J?at  hi  moten  i-seche 

pat  ilche  song  }?at  euer  is  eche. 

Nu  }m  myht,  vie,  sitte  and  clynge ; 

Her  amoKg  nys  no  chateringe  : 
745  Ich  graunti  j?at  ]?u  go  to  dome 

To-vore  j?e  sulve  Pope  of  Rome. 

Ac  a-bid  yete,  no]?eles, 

pu  schalt  a-byde  on  o]?er  [bles]: 

Ne  schaltu,  vor  Engelonde, 
750  At  J?isse  worde  me  at-stonde. 

Hwy  at-witestu  me  myne  vnstreng]?e, 

&  myne  vngrete,  &  myn  vnleng)?e, 

&  sayst  J?at  ich  am  nouht  strong, 

Vor  ic  nam  no]?er  gret  ne  long  ?  Fol.  234  V,  col.  1. 
755  Ac  ]?u  nost  neuer  hwat  J?u  menest, 

Bute  lese  wordes  ]?u  me  lenest : 

734  omitted.  —  748  bles  in  later  hand.  —  751  me,  e  much  like 
v,  cp.  S39' 


64       Cije  <£tol  ant)  t^c  j^tgtjtmgale 

for  ich  kan  craft,  &  ich  kan  liste, 

an  [}?]  are-uore  ich  am  )?us  Jmste. 

Ich  kan  wit  &  song  mani  eine, 
760  ne  triste  ich  to  non  o\er  maine : 

vor  so]?  hit  is  )>at  seide  Alured, 

"Ne  mai  no  strengj?e  a^en  red." 

Oft  spet  wel  a  lute  liste, 

J?ar  muche  streng]?e  sholde  miste : 
765  mid  lutle  streng]?e  J?ur}  ginne, 

castel  &  bur}  me  mai  i-winne. 

Mid  liste  me  mai  walle  felle, 

an  worpe  of  horsse  knifes  snelle. 

Vuel  strengj?e  is  lutel  wur]>, 
77°        *  *  *  *  * 

*  *  *  *  * 

ac  wisdom  naue)?  non  euening. 

An  hors  is  strengur  )?an   [a  mon]; 

ac  for  hit  non  i-wit  ne  kon, 
775  hit  ber]?  on  rugge  grete  semes, 

an  dra}[?  bi-uore  grete  temes, 

an  \o\t\  boj?e  $erd  &  spure, 

an  stont  iteid  at  mulne  dure. 

An  hit  de]?  J?at  mon  hit  hot : 
780 an  for  )?an  )?at  hit  no  wit  not, 

758  J?are,  \>  dotted.  —  759  very  like  mam  eine,  Wr.,  St.,  Str. 
manteine.  —  763  lute  or  litte,  no  dot.  —  770,  771  omitted;  smudge 
on  marg.  to  ?  call  attention  to  omission.  —  773  amon.  —  774  gon. 
deleted  before  kon. 


W$t  ®M  anD  tyt  j^igtjtingale       65 

For  ic  kan  craft,  &  ic  kan  lyste, 

&  J?ar-fore  ic  am  j?us  ]?riste. 

Ich  kan  wit  &  song  mony  eine, 
760  Ne  triste  ic  to  non  o)?er  mayne : 

Vor  so)?  hit  is  )?at  seyde  Alured, 

"  Ne  may  no  strengj?e  a-yeyn  red." 

Oft  spet  wel  a  lute  lyste, 

par  muche  streng]?e  solde  myste : 
765  Mid  lutle  strengj?e  Jmreh  ginne, 

Castel  &  bureh  me  may  winne. 

Mid  liste  me  may  walles  felle, 

&  werpe  of  horse  knyhtcr  snelle. 

Vuel  streng)?e  is  lutel  wrj;, 
770  Ac  wisdom  ne  wrj?  neu^r  vnwrj? : 

pu  myht  iseo  J?urh  alle  J^ing, 

pat  wisdow  nauej?  non  euening. 

An  hors  is  strengur  J?an  a  mon ; 

Ac  for  hit  non  iwit  ne  kon, 
775  Hit  ber)?  on  rugge  gn?te  semes, 

&  drahj?  bi  sweore  gn?te  temes, 

&  j?ole}?  bo)?e  yerd  &  spure, 

■&  stont  i-teyed  at  mulne  dure. 

&  hit  doj?  |?at  mon  hit  hot : 
780  &  for  J?an  )?at  hit  no  wit  not, 


66      Wyt  ®iol  anu  tlje  jftig&tmgale 

ne  mai  his  stren)?e  hit  i-shilde 

)>at  hit  nabu^J?  )?e  lutle  childe. 

Mon  de)?,  mid  streng)?e  &  mid  witte, 

J?at  o\er  j?ing  nis  non  his  fitte. 
785  pe^  alle  streng|?e  at  one  were, 

monnes  wit  $et  more  were  :  Fol.  138  v,  col.  2. 

vor  )?e  mon  mid  his  crafte, 

ouer-kume)?  al  or)?liche  shafte. 

Al  so  ich  do  mid  mine  one  songe 
790  bet  )?an  j?u  al  )?e  }er  longe  : 

vor  mine  crafte  men  me  luuie)?, 

vor  )?ine  streng)?e  men  J?e  shuniej;. 

Telstu  bi  me  J?e  wurs  for  J>an 

)?at  ich  bute  anne  craft  ne  kan  ? 
795^if  tueie  men  go)?  to  wraslinge, 

an  etyer  o\er  faste  fringe, 

an  )>e  on  can  swenges  su)?e  fele, 

an  kan  his  wrenches  wel  for-hele, 

an  )?e  o\er  ne  can  sweng  but  anne, 
800  an  J?e  is  god  wij?  eche  manne, 

an  mid  J?on  one  lei)?  to  grunde 

anne  after  otyer  a  lutle  stunde, 

[w]  at  )?arf  he  recche  of  a  mo  swenge, 

[w]one  J?e  on  him  is  swo  genge  ? 
805  p[u]  seist  )?at  Jm  canst  fele  wike, 

790  \>u,  on  erasure.  —  794  kan,   ?  c  altered  to  k.  —  803   M> 
no  dot ;  J>arf,  \>  dot  in  different  ink.  —  804  i>one,  no  dot.  —  805 


W$t  <®tol  ana  ttje  jptsfjtmgale       67 

Ne  may  his  stre«g]?e  hit  i-schild* 

pat  h  [it]  nabuh)?  )?e  lutle  childe. 

Mow  do)?,  mid  streng)?e  &  mid  witte, 

pat  o\er  ]?ing  nys  non  his  fitte. 
785pey  alle  streng];e  at  one  [w]ere, 

Monnes  wit  yet  more  were : 

Vor  ]?e  mow  myd  his  crafte, 

Ou^rcumeJ?  al  eor)?liche  shafte.      Fol.  234  v,  col.  2. 

Al  so  ic  do  myd  myne  one  songe 
790  Bet  j?an  ]?u  alle  yer  longe : 

Vor  myne  crafte  men  me  luuye]?, 

Vor  ]?ine  strengf>e  men  J?e  schunye]?. 

Telstu  bi  me  j?e  wrs  for  J?an 

pat  ic  bute  enne  craft  ne  kan  ? 
795  If  twey  men  go)?  to  wrastlinge, 

&  ey)?er  o)?er  vaste  fringe, 

&  )?e  on  can  swenges  swi)?e  fele, 

&  kan  his  wrenches  wel  for-hele, 

&  )?e  o]?er  ne  can  sweng  bute  onne, 
800  &  )?e  is  god  wi]?  eche  manne, 

&  myd  J?an  one  ley);  to  grunde 

Anne  afW  o)>e[r]  a  lutle  stunde, 

Hwat  ]?arf  he  recche  of  [a  mo]  swenge, 

Hwenne  J?e  on  him  is  so  genge  ? 
805  p  [u]  seyst  )?at  )?u  canst  fele  wike, 

782  h  nabuh)>.  —  785  yere.  —  799  onne,  altered  to  annc.  — 
802  oj»e.  —  803  amo.  —  805  J?e. 


68       Gfyt  @tol  ant)  tlje  j^igfttmgale 

ac  txier  ich  am  }>in  unilike. 

Do  J?ine  craftes  alle  to-gadere, 

}et  is  min  on  horte  betere. 

Oft  [w]an  hundes  foxes  driue)?, 
8io]?e  kat  ful  wel  him  sulue  liue)?, 

J?e$  he  ne  kunne  wrench  bute  anne. 

pe  fo[x]  so  godne  ne  can  nanne, 

}?e[j]  he  kunne  so  uele  wrenche, 

]?at  he  wen];  eche  hunde  at-pr^nche. 
8i5Vor  he  can  pa)?es  ri^te  &  wo^e, 

an  he  kan  hongi  bi  J?e  bo^e, 

an  so  for-lost  ]?e  hund  his  fore, 

an  turn)?  a^en  eft  to  J?an  more. 

pe  uox  kan  crope  bi  )?e  heie, 
820 an  turne  ut  from  his  forme  weie,  Fol.  239  r,  col.  1. 

an  eft  sone  kume  }>ar-to  : 

J?onne  is  ]?e  hundes  smel  for-do ; 

he  not,  J>ur[j]  J?e  imeinde  smak, 

we)?cr  he  shal  auor]>  )?e  abak. 
825^  if  )?e  uox  mist  of  al  )>is  dwole, 

at  }?an  ende  he  crop]?  to  hole  : 

ac  na]?eles  mid  alle  his  wrenche, 

ne  kan  he  hine  so  bi-J?enche, 

]?e2  he  bo  }ep  an  su]?e  snel, 
83o)?at  he  ne  lost  his  rede  uel.   • 

pe  cat  ne  kan  wrench  bute  anne, 

809  ban,  no  dot.  —  812  for.  —  813  be.  —  819  kan,  c  altered  to 
k.  —  823  burs.  —  824  before  bak  ?  orig.  a  interlined. 


Wqt  ®tol  ana  tije  jlitgljtmgale       69 

Ac  euer  ich  am  )?in  vnyliche. 

Do  )?ine  craftes  alle  to-gadere, 

Yet  is  myn  on  heorte  betere. 

Ofte  hwan  hundes  foxes  driuej?, 
810  pe  kat  ful  wel  him  sulue  liue];, 

peh  he  ne  cunne  wreynch  bute  anne. 

pe  fo[x]  so  godne  ne  can  nanne, 

pey  he  cunne  so  vele  wrenche, 

pat  he  wene)?  eche  hunde  at-pmiche. 
815  Vor  he  can  pa|?es  rihte  and  wowe, 

&  he  can  hongi  bi  J?e  bowe, 

&  so  vor-lest  )?e  hund  his  fore, 

&  turn);  eft  a-yeyn  to  J;e  more. 

pe  fox  can  crepe  by  J?e  heye, 
820  &  turne  vt  from  his  forme  weye, 

&  eft  sone  cume  ]?ar-to : 

penne  is  ]?es  hundes  smel  for-do;  Fol.  135  r,  col.  1. 

He  not,  purh  J?e  [m]eynde  smak, 

Hwe]?er  he  schal  vor]?  pe  abak. 
825  If  J?e  uox  miste  of  al  ]?is  dwele, 

At  ]?an  ende  he  creoph)?  to  hole : 

Ac  na)?eles  myd  al  his  wrenche, 

Ne  can  he  hine  so  bipenche, 

pey  he  beo  yep  &  swi]?e  snel, 
8  30  pat  he  ne  leost  his  rede  vel. 

pe  kat  ne  can  wrench  bute  anne, 

812  for.  —  823  Meynde. 


70       W$t  ®toi  ana  ttje  jpigfotingale 

nctyer  bi  dune  ne  bi  uenne: 

bute  he  lean  climbe  su]?e  wel, 

J?ar-mid  he  were)?  his  greie  uel. 
835  Al  so  ich  segge  bi  mi  solue, 

betere  is  min  on  ]?an  J?ine  twelue. ' 
'Abid  !  abid  ! '  )?e  ule  seide, 

1  J?u  gest  al  to  mid  swikel-ede  : 

alle  J?ine  wordes  J?u  bileist 
84oj?at  hit  J?incj?  so];  al  J?at  J?u  seist; 

alle  J?ine  wordes  bo]?  i-sliked, 

an  so  bisemed  an  biliked, 

}?at  alle  J?o  J?at  hi  a-uo)?, 

hi  wenej>  J?at  J?u  segge  so)?. 
845  Abid  !  abid  !  me  shal  J?e  ^ene 

[w]u  hit  shal  wrj?e  wel  i-sene 

J?at  j?u  hauest  muchel  ilo^e, 

wone  J?i  lesing  bo]?  un-wro$e. 

pu  seist  ]?at  ]?u  singist  mankuwne, 
850  &  techest  horn  ]?at  hi  fundiej?  howne 

vp  to  )?e  songe  j?at  eure  ilest  : 

ac  hit  is  aire  wnder  mest, 

]?at  ]?u  darst  li^e  so  opeliche. 

Wenest  J?u  hi  bringe  so  li^t-liche     Fol.  2391-,  coL  2. 
855  to  Godes  riche  al  singinge  ? 

Nai,  nai,  hi  shulle  wel  a-uinde 

]?at  hi  mid  longe  wope  mote 

of  hore  sunned  bidde  bote, 

846   )>u,  no  dot. 


Wqt  ®tol  ant)  ttje  jpigftttngale       7 l 

No)?*r  bi  dune  ne  bi  venne : 

Bute  he  can  clymbe  swi)?e  wel, 

par-myd  he  were]?  his  greye  vel. 
835  Al  so  ich  segge  bi  my  seolue, 

Beter  is  myn  on  )?an  J?ine  twelue.' 
4  Abid  !  abid  ! '  )?e  vie  seyde, 

*  pu  gest  al  to  mid  swikel-hed* : 

Alle  J?ine  wordes  ]?u  bileyst 
840  pat  hit  ]?ink)?  so)?  j?at  ]?u  seyst ; 

Alle  )?ine  wordes  beo)?  i-sliked, 

&  so  biseme[d]  and  bilike[d], 

pat  alle  heo  ]?at  hi  auo]?, 

Hi  wenej?  j?at  )?u  segge  so)?. 
845  Abid  !   abid  !   me  schal  )?e  yene  ! 

Nu  hit  schal  wrj?e  wel  i-sene 

pat  j?u  hauest  muchel  i-lowe, 

Hwenne  )?i  lesing  beo)?  vnwrowe. 

pu  seist  )?at  J?u  singest  mo«-cu«ne, 
850  &  techest  heom  J?at  hi  funde)?  heonne 

Vp  to  )?e  songe  J?at  eu^r  i-last : 

Ac  hit  is  aire  wndre  mest, 

pat  [)?u]  darst  lye  so  opeliche. 

Wenestu  hi  bringe  so  lyhtliche 
855  To  Godes  riche  al  singinde  ? 

Nay,  nay,  hi  schule  wel  avynde     Fol.  235  r,  col.  2 

pat  hi  myd  longe  wope  mote 

Of  heore  sunnen  bidde  bote, 

842  bisemej> ;  bilikeb.  —  853  J?at  darst. 


72       Ctje  ®tol  anD  t\)t  jpigtitingale 

ar  hi  mote  eu*r  kume  }>are. 
860  Ich  rede  )?i  ]>at  men  bo  ^are, 

an  more  wepe  J?ane  singe, 

j?at  fundej?  to  ]?an  houen-kinge : 

vor  nis  no  man  wit-ute  sunne. 

Vor-J?i  he  mot,  ar  he  wende  honne, 
865  mid  teres  an  mid  wope  bete, 

j?at  him  bo  sur  )?at  er  was  swete. 

par-to  ich  helpe,  God  hit  wot ! 

Ne  singe  i  [c]  h  horn  no  foliot : 

for  al  me  song  is  of  longinge, 
870 an  imend  sum-del  mid  woninge, 

}?at  mon  bi  me  hine  bi-)>enche 

J?at  he  groni  for  his  un-wrenche ; 

mid  mine  songe  ich  [hine]  pulte, 

]?at  he  groni  for  his  gulte. 
875  ^if  pu  gest  her-of  to  disputinge, 

ich  wepe  bet  J?ane  J?u  singe : 

$if  ri$t  go)?  for)?,  &  abak  wrong, 

bet^re  is  mi  wop  ]?ane  ]n  song. 

pe^  sume  men  bo  ]?ur^ut  gode, 
880 an  Jrnr^ut  clene  on  hore  mode, 

ho  [m]  longe]>  honne  no]?eles. 

pat  boj?  her,  [w]  o  is  horn  ]?es  : 

vor  J?e}  hi  bon  horn  solue  ibor^e, 

868  ih.  —  869  a  song,  a  deleted.  — 872,  874  groni,  no  dot; 
Wr.,  St.  grom.  —  873  hi  ne.  —  874  cf.  8j2  ;  ghe,  g  deleted.  — 
877  forb,  b  smudged.  —  881  hon.  —  882  bo,  no  dot. 


W$t  ®tol  anu  t\)t  j^igtyingale       73 

Ar  hi  mote  euer  cume  ]?are. 
860  Ich  rede  }n  )?at  men  beo  ware, 

&  more  wepe  ]?ane  singe, 

pat  funde)?  to  J?an  heuene-kynge : 

For  nys  no  mow  wij?-vten  sunne. 

For-]?i  he  mot  ar  he  wende  heonne, 
865  Mid  teres  &  myd  wope  bete, 

pat  him  beo  sur  J?at  er  was  swete. 

par-to  ich  helpe,  God  hit  wot ! 

Ne  singe  ich  heom  no  foliot : 

Vor  al  my  song  is  of  longinge, 
870  And  ymeynd  su77z-del  myd  woninge, 

pat  mo«  bi  me  hine  bij?enche 

pat  he  grony  for  his  vnwrenche ; 

Mid  myne  songe  ich  hine  [pulte], 

pat  he  grony  for  his  gulte. 
875  If  J?u  gest  her-of  to  disputinge, 

Ich  wepe  bet  J?an  j?u  singe  : 

If  riht  go];  for)?,  &  abak  wrong, 

Bet*re  is  my  wop  )?an  j?i  song. 

peyh  summe  men  beon  ]?urhut  god*, 
880  &  ]?urhut  clene  on  heore  mod*, 

Heo;w  longej?  heonne  no)?eles. 

pat  beo)?  her,  wo  is  horn  pes  : 

Vor  J?eyh  hi  beo  heom  seine  iborewe, 

873  pulte,  in  later  hand. 


74       tE&e  ®tol  anD  ttje  jfttgfttmgale 

hi  ne  so)?  her  no-wi$t  bote  sorwe. 
885  Vor  o]?er  men  hi  wepe)?  sore, 

an  for  horn  biddej?  Cristes  ore. 

Ich  helpe  monne  on  eijw  halue, 

mi  mu|?  hauej?  tweire  kunne  salue  :         Fol.  239  v, 

)?an  gode  ich  fulste  to  longinge,  co1-  ■• 

890 vor  [w]an  hi  [m]  longej?,  ich  him  singe; 

an  J?an  sunfulle  ich  helpe  al-swo, 

vor  ich  him  teche  [w]  are  is  wo. 

^et  ich  )?e  $ene  in  o]ier  wise : 

vor  [w]ane  )?u  sittest  on  )?ine  rise, 
895  [?u  dra^st  men  to  fleses  luste, 

J?at  wllej?  )?ine  songes  luste. 

Al  j?u  for-lost  j?e  mur^e  of  houene, 

for  )?ar-to  neuestu  none  steuene  : 

al  J;at  )?u  singst  is  of  gol-nesse, 
900  for  nis  on  J?e  non  holi-nesse, 

ne  wened  na  man  for  )n  pipinge 

\at  eni  preost  in  chir[ch]e  singe. 

^et  I  j?e  wulle  an  oder  segge, 

$if  \\i  hit  const  ariht  bilegge  : 
905  [wi]  nultu  singe  an  oder  J>eode, 

J?ar  hit  is  muchele  more  neode  ? 

pu  neau^r  ne  singst  in  Ir-londe, 

ne  |?u  ne  cumest  no}t  in  Scotlowde. 

890  }>an,  no  dot ;  hin.  —  891  orig.  ?  al  so,  o  altered  to  wen  and 
o  added.  —  892  fare,  no  dot.  — 894  )>ane,  no  dot.  —  902  chirgce, 
eg  run  together ,  c  perhaps   to  displace  g.  —  905  f>i,  wen  no  dot. 


W$t  @toi  ana  t^e  i^tg^tingaie       75 

Hi  ne  seoj?  her  nowiht  bute  serewe. 
885  Vor  oJ>er  men  hi  wepe]?  sore, 

&  for  heom  biddej?  Cristes  ore. 

Ich  helpe  mowne  on  ey]?er  haiue, 

Mi  [m]u|?  hauej?  tweire  kunne  salue : 

pan  gode  ich  fulste  to  longinge, 
890  Vor  hwenne  him  lowgej?  ic  \\\m  singe;    Fol.  235  v, 

&  J?an  sunfulle  ic  helpe  al-so,  coL  '• 

Vor  ic  him  teche  hwar  is  wo. 

Yet  ic  )?e  yene  on  o)?er  wise  : 

Vor  hwenne  ]?u  sittest  on  ];ine  rise, 
895  pu  drahst  men  to  fleyses  luste, 

pat  wile}?  J?ine  songes  luste. 

Al  J?u  vorleost  ]?e  [m]  ureh)?e  of  heuene, 

For  par-to  nauestu  none  steuene : 

Al  J?at  J?u  singest  is  of  golnesse, 
900  For  nys  on  J?e  non  holynesse, 

Ne  wenej?  no  mon  for  )?i  pipinge 

pat  eny  preost  in  chirche  singe. 

Yet  ic  J?e  wile  on  o)?er  segge, 

If  ]?u  hit  const  ariht  bilegge  : 
905  Hwi  nultu  singe  an  oJ?er  ];eod^, 

pa[r]  hit  is  muchele  more  neod*  ? 

pu  neu^r  ne  singest  in  Irlonde, 

Ne  J?u  ne  cumest  in  Scotlonde. 

888   Mub. —  898   Murehbe  ;  heuene,  ne  above  line  for  space. 
—  906   J?at,  t  dotted,  r  above. 


76       ®tje  ®tol  ant)  t^e  j^igljtmgaU 

Hwi  nultu  fare  to  Nore-weie  ? 
910  aw  singin  men  of  Gala-weie  ? 

par  beoft  men  \at  lutel  kunne 

of  songe  \at  is  bi-neo^e  ]?e  su«ne. 

Wi  nultu  )?are  preoste  singe, 

an  teche  of  J?ire  writelinge, 
915  an  wisi  horn  mid  Jnre  steuene 

hu  engeles  singed  ine  heouene  ? 

pu  farest  so  do§  an  ydel  wel 

)?at  springe);  bi  burne  )?a[t]  is  snel, 

an  let  for-drue  J?e  dune, 
920  &  floh  on  idel  j?ar  adune. 

Ac  ich  fare  bo];e  nor]?  &  so)? : 

in  eauer-euch  londe  ich  am  cuuj? ;    Fol.  239  v,  col.  2. 

east  &  west,  feor  &  neor, 

I  do  wel  faire  mi  meoster, 
925  an  warni  men  mid  mine  bere, 

\at  \'\  dweole  song  heo  ne  forlere. 

Ich  wisse  men  mid  min  [e]  songe, 

\at  hi  ne  sunegi  no-wiht  longe  j 

I  bidde  horn  }>at  heo  iswike, 
930)7^/  heom  seolue  ne  bi-swike  : 

for  bet^re  is  \at  heo  wepen  here, 

J?an  elles  hwar  to  beon  deoulene  fere.' 

910  a'  for  zn. — 916  ine,  no  dot.  —  917  y  -very  like  wen. — 
918  }>ar,  r  and  t,  or  abbreviation,  confused.  — 919  a'  for  an.  — 
923  west .  .  — 924  mi,  no  dot.  —  927  min,  e  interlined,  different 
ink.  —  932  deoulene,  first  e  perhaps  o  altered. 


W$t  @tol  ana  ttje  jpigtjtingaie       77 

Hwi  nultu  vare  to  Norweye  ? 
910  &  singen  men  of  Galeweye  ? 

par  beoj?  men  J?at  litel  kunne 

Of  songe  J?at  is  vnder  sunne. 

Hwi  nultu  J?are  preoste  singe, 

&  teche  of  J;ire  writelinge, 
915  &  wisi  heom  myd  J^ire  stefne 

Hw  engles  singe);  in  J?e  heuene? 

pu  farest  so  do);  on  yde[l]  wel 

p#/  spr/nge]?  bi  burne  J;at  is  snel, 

&  let  for-druye  J?e  dune, 
920  &  flohj?   [an  ydel]  ];ar  a-dune. 

Ac  ich  fare  nor)?  and  sou); : 

In  eu^r-ich  londe  ich  am  cu)?; 

East  &  west,  sou);  &  nor)?, 

I  do  wel  fay  re  my  mester,  Fol.  235  v,  col.  2. 

925  &  warny  men  mid  myne  bere, 

pat  J?i  dwele  song  heo  ne  forle[r]e. 

Ich  wisse  men  myd  myne  songe, 

pat  hi  ne  sunegi  [nowiht]  longe  j 

Ich  bidde  heom  }>at  heo  iswike, 
930  pat  heom  seolue  ne  bi-swike  : 

For  betere  is  ]?at  heo  wepe  here, 

pan  elles  hwar  beo  deouele  yuere.' 

917  yde.  —  920  anydel,  i  changed  to  y,  or  y  to  i.  —  926  forlete. 
—  928  now  iht. 


78       &\)t  ®tol  ana  tftr  j£igt)tmgale 

pe  ni3tingale  was  igremet, 

an  ek  heo  was  sum-del  of-chamed, 
935  for  pe  hule  hire  at-witen  hadde 

in  hwucche  stude  he  sat  an  gradde, 

bi-hinde  pe  bure,  among  pe  wede, 

par  men  go-$  to  here  neode; 

an  sat  sum  del,  &  heo  bi-pohte, 
940  an  wiste  wel  on  hire  pohte 

pe  wrappe  binimep  monnes  red. 

For  hit  seide  pe  king  Alfred, 

'Sel[d]e  endeft  wel  pe  lope, 

an  selde  plaideft  wel  pe  wrope.' 
945  For  wrappe  meinp  pe  horte  blod 

pat  hit  flowep  so  wilde  flod, 

an  al  pe  heorte  ouer-gep, 

ptf/  heo  nauep  no  ping  bute  brep, 

an  so  for-leost  al  hire  liht, 
950  pat  heo  ni  sip  soft  ne  riht. 

pe  ni^tingale  hi  under-stod, 

an  ouer-gan  lette  hire  mod  : 

he  mihte  bet  speken  a  sele, 

pan  mid  wrappe  wordes  deale. 
955      •  [H]ule,'  heo  seide,  c  lust  nu  hider: 

pu  schalt  falle,  pe  wei  is  slider.      Fol.  240  r,  col.  1. 

pu  seist  ich  fleo  bi-hinde  bure : 

936  gadde,  r  interlined,  perhaps  orig.  hand.  —  941  binimej>, 
no  dots.  —  943  sele.  —  950  si]?,  no  dot.  —  955  J?ule,  rubric  J?  for 
H.  — 956  falle  .  . 


W$z  <®M  ant)  tlje  jptgltfmgale       79 

pe  [n]ihtegale  wes  a-gromed, 

&  ek  sum-del  of-schomed, 
935  For  J?e  vie  hire  at-witen  hedde 

In  hwiche  stude  ho  sat  &  gradde, 

Bi-hinde  )?e  bure,  a-morcg  ]?e  wed, 

par  men  gon  to  heore  ned ; 

&  sat  sum  del,  &  ho  bi]?ouhte, 
940  &  wiste  wel  on  hire  J?ouhte 

pe  wra)?]?e  bi-nyme}?  morcnes  red. 

For  hit  seyde  ]?e  king  Alured, 

4  Selde  ende]?  wel  \>e  [lo)>e] , 

&  selde  playde)?  wel  ]?e  wro^e.' 
945  For  wra]?]?e  meynj?  j?e  heorte  blod 

pat  hit  flowe]?  so  wilde  flod, 

&  al  |?e  heorte  ouer-ge]?, 

pat  heo  naue]?  na  J?ing  bute  bre]?, 

&  so  uorleost  al  his  lyht, 
950  pat  ho  ne  syh)?  soj?  ne  riht. 

pe  nyhtegale  hi  vnderstod, 

&  auer-gan  lette  hire  mod : 

He  myhte  bet  speken  i-sele, 

pan  myd  wra)?]?e  wordes  dele. 
955       ['Vie,'  heo]  seyde,  Must  nv  hider : 

pu  schalt  falle,  j?i  wey  is  slider. 

pu  seyst  ich  fleo  bi-hind*  bure  : 

933  Nihtegale.  —  943  lo  followed  by  first  tivo  strokes  of  w  dot- 
tea,  ivith  J?e  next  after.  —  955  J?e  vie  seyde,  marg.  at  bottom  J?e 
nystegale,  faint.  —  957  ich  altered  to  Ich. 


80       tEtje  <DtDl  ana  t^e  jftigtjtmple 

hit  is  riht,  j?e  bur  is  ure ; 

]?ar  lauerd  HggeJ?  &  lauedi, 
960  ich  schal  heom  singe  &  sitte  bi. 

Wenstu  ]?at  uise  men  forlete 

for  fule  venne,  )?e  ri^tte  strete  ? 

ne  sunne  ]?e  later  shine, 

J7e^  hit  bo  ful  ine  nest  )?ine  ? 
965Sholde  ich  for  one  hole  brede, 

forlete  mine  ri^te  st[e]de, 

J?a[t]  ich  ne  singe  bi  J?e  bedde, 

];ar  louerd  haue)?  his  loue  ibedde? 

Hit  is  mi  ri}t,  hit  is  mi  la^e, 
97o]?ar  to  ]?e  herst  ich  me  dra^e. 

Ac  $et  )?u  ^elpst  of  )?ine  songe, 

)?at  J?u  canst  pile  wro]?e  &  strange, 

an  seist  ]?u  uisest  man-kunne, 

|?at  hi  bi-wepen  hore  sunne. 
975Solde  euch  mon  wonie  &  grede 

ri$t  suich  hi  weren  un-lede, 

solde  hi  pollen  al  so  )>u  dest, 

hi  mi^te  oferen  here  brost. 

Man  schal  bo  stille,  &  no}t  grede ; 
980 he  mot  bi-wepe  his  mis-dede : 

ac  [w]ar  is  Cristes  heriinge 

J?ar  me  shal  grede  &  lude  singe  ? 

Nis  nojw  to  lud  ne  to  long 

960  singe  .  .  —  966  strude,  u  deleted,  e  above  in  ?  different  ink. 
—  967  J>at,  ?  r  altered  to  t ;  J?e,  \>  dotted. —  981  bar,  no  dot. 


W$t  ® tol  anD  ttje  jlitgfttmgale       8 1 

Hit  is  riht,  ]?e  bur  is  vre  ;  Fol.  236  r,  col.  1 

par  louml  ligge)?  and  leuedy, 
960  Ich  schal  heom  synge  &  sitte  bi. 

Wenestu  )?at  wise  men  for-lete 

Vor  fule  venne,  )?e  rihte  strete  ? 

Ne  sunne  ]?e  later  schyne, 

peyh  hit  beo  ful  in  neste  J>ine  ? 
965Scholdich  for  one  hole  brede, 

Fur-lete  myne  rihte  stede, 

pat  ich  ne  singe  bi  )?e  bedde, 

par  lou^rd  haue]?  his  lauedi  bedde  ? 

Hit  is  my  rihte,  hit  is  my  lawe, 
970  pat  to  J>e  hexste  ich  me  drawe. 

Ac  if  J?u  yelpst  of  |?ine  songe, 

pat  J?u  kanst  yolle  uro]?e  &  strange, 

&  seyst  J?u  wisest  monkunne, 

pat  hi  bi-wepen  heore  sunne, 
975Solde  eumiych  mon  wony  &  grede 

Riht  such  hi  weren  vn-lede  ? 

Scholde  hi  yollen  al  so  J?u  dest, 

Hi  myhten  a-fere  heore  preost. 

Mon  schal  beo  stille  &  noht  grede; 
980  He  mot  biwepe  his  mysdede: 

Ac  [w]ar  is  Cristes  heriynge 

par  me  grede  &  lude  singe  ? 

Nis  no|?e[r]  to  lude  ne  to  long 

981   bar,  ]>  or  wen.  —  983  no>e. 


82       tEtje  ®tol  ana  ttje  jlitgtjtmgale 

at  ri^te  time  chirche-song. 
985  pu  }olst  &  wones[t],  &  ich  singe: 

]?i  steuene  is  wop,  &  min  skentinge. 

Euer  mote  )?u  pile  &  wepen 

J?at  J?u  )?i  lif  mote  for-leten  ! 

an  pollen  mote  ]?u  so  he^e, 
99oJ?at  ut  berste  bo  J?in  e^e  !  Fol.  240  r,  col.  *, 

We^r  is  betfre  of  twere  twom, 

J>at  mon  bo  bltye  o]?er  grom  ? 

So  bo  hit  euer  in  unk^r  sij?e, 

)?at  )?u  bo  sori  &  ich  blij?e. 
995  3  ut  Jm  aisheist  wi  ich  ne  fare 

in-to  o\er  londe,  Sc  singe  J?are  ? 

No  !  wat  sholde  ich  among  horn  do, 

j?ar  neu^r  blisse  ne  com  to  ? 

pat  lond  nis  god,  ne  hit  nis  este, 
1000  ac  wildernisse  hit  is  &  weste  j 

knarres  &  eludes  houentinge, 

snou  &  ha^el  horn  is  genge. 

pat  lond  is  grislich  &  unuele, 

J?e  men  bo)?  wilde  &  unisele, 
1005  hi  nabbej?  no\er  grij?  ne  sibbe: 

hi  ne  recchej?  hu  hi  libbe. 

Hi  etej?  fihs  an  flehs  un-sode, 

suich  wulues  hit  hadde  to-brode 

hi  drinkej?  mile  &  wei  J?ar-to, 

985   wones.  —  990  ?  jiin  altered  to  J>in. 


Ww  <®M  anu  tfje  jpigtjtingale       83 

At  rihte  tyme  xrhirche-song. 
985 pu  yollest  &  wonest,  &  ic  singe: 

pi  stefne  is  wop,  &  myn  skentinge. 

Euer  mote  J?u  yolle  &  wepen 

pat  J?u  ]?i  lif  mote  for-leten  ! 

&  yolle  mote  J?u  so  heye, 
990  pat  ut  to-bersten  bo  ]?in  eye  ! 

Hwe^r  is  bet^re  of  tweyre  twom, 

pat  mon  beo  blipe  o)?er  grom  ?       Fol.  236  r,  col.  2. 

So  beo  hit  euer  in  vnker  stye, 

pat  J?u  beo  sori  &  ich  blipe. 
995  Yet  J?u  ayschest  hwi  ic  ne  vare 

In-to  o)?er  londe  &  singe  J?are  ? 

No  !  hwat  scholdich  a-mo«g  heom  do, 

par  neu^r  blisse  ne  com  to  ? 

pat  lond  nys  god,  ne  hit  nys  este, 
1000  Ac  wildmiesse  hit  is  &  weste; 

Knarres  &  eludes  houenetinge, 

Snov  &  hawel  ho///  is  genge. 

pat  lond  is  grislich  &  vnuele, 

pe  men  beo]?  wilde  &  vnsele, 
1005  Hi  nabbe}>  no]>er  grip  ne  sibbe: 

Hi  ne  recche]?  hw  hi  libbe. 

Hi  ettj/  fys  &  fleys  vnsode, 

Suych  wolues  hit  hadde  to-broude ; 

Hi  drinke]?  mylk  &  hwey  J?ar-to, 

999  god,  d  on  undecipherable  letter  and  e. 


84       Wqt  <®tol  ana  t\)t  j^igfttingale 

ioiohi  nute  elles  [w]at  hi  do; 

hi  nabbej?  noj>  [er]  win  ne  bor, 

ac  libbej?  also  wilde  dor : 

hi  go)?  bi-ti^t  mid  ru^e  uelle, 

ri^t  suich  hi  comen  ut  of  helle. 
ioi5pe^  eni  god  man  to  horn  come, 

so  wile  dude  sum  from  Rome, 

for  horn  to  lere  gode  J?ewes, 

an  for  to  leten  hore  un-J?ewes, 

he  mi^te  bet  sitte  stille, 
idovor  al  his  wile  he  sholde  spille: 

he  mi^te  bet  teche  ane  bore 

to  we$e  bo)?e  sheld  &  spere, 

j?an  me  )?at  wilde  folc  ibringe 

)?at  hi  [me  wolde]  ihere  singe.       Fol.  240  v,  col.  1. 
1025  Wat  sol  ich  J?ar  mid  mine  songe, 

ne  sunge  ich  horn  neu^r  so  longe  ? 

Mi  song  were  i-spild  ech  del : 

for  horn  ne  mai  halter  ne  bridel 

bringe  vrom  hore  wude  wise, 
1030  ne  mon  mid  stele  ne  mid  ire. 

Ac  war  Ion  [d]  is  bo)?e  este  &  god, 

an  f>ar  men  habbej?  milde  mod, 

ich  noti  mid  horn  mine  j?rote, 

vor  ich  mai  do  J?ar  gode  note ; 
1035  an  bringe  hom  loue  ttyinge, 

1010   fr>at.  —  ion    noJ>.  —  1024    me    segge    wolde.  —  1030 
$te\k,Jirst  1  deleted.  —  103 1  long. 


Wt)t  #tol  ant)  cjje  jf>tgl)tmgale       85 

1010H1  nutej?  elles  hwet  hi  do; 

Hi  nabbej?  noht  wyn  ne  beor, 

Ac  libbej?  al  so  wilde  deor : 

Hi  goj?  by-tuht  myd  rowe  felle, 

Riht  suych  hi  come  vt  of  helle. 
ioi5pey  eny  god  man  to  heom  come, 

So  hwile  dude  sum  from  Rome, 

For  heom  to  lere  gode  ]?ewes, 

&  for  to  lete  heore  vn]?ewes, 

He  myhte  be[t]  sytte  stille, 
1020  Vor  al  his  hwile  he  scolde  spille : 

He  myhte  bet  teche  ane  beore 

To  bere  scheld  and  spere, 

pane  J?at  wilde  volk  ibringe 

pat  hi  me  wolde  i-here  singe. 
1025  Hwat  scholdich  j?ar  mid  myne  song[e], 

Ne  singe  ic  heow  neuer  so  longe?  Fol.  236  V,  col.  i. 

Mi  song  were  ispild  vych  del : 

For  heom  ne  may  halter  ne  bridel 

Bringe  from  here  wode  wyse, 
1030  Ne  mow  mid  stele  ne  mid  ire. 

Ac  J?ar  lond  is  este  and  god, 

&  J?ar  men  habbe)?  mylde  mod, 

Ic  notye  myd  heow  [m]  ine  J?rote, 

For  ic  may  do  ]?ar  gode  note ; 
io35  &  bringe  heom  leue  tydinge, 

10 1 9  be.  —  1025   song,  e  cut  ojf.  —  1033  Mine. 


86       W$t  ®tol  ant)  tlje  jliigtjtmgale 

vor  ich  of  chirche-  songe  singe. 

Hit  was  iseid  in  olde  la^e, 

an  }et  ilast  ]?ilke  so]?-sa3e, 

)?at  man  shal  erien  an  sowe, 
ic-4oj?ar  he  wen)?  after  sum  god  mowe: 

for  he  is  wod  J?at  sowe)?  his  sed 

j?ar  neu^r  gras  ne  spr/nj?  ne  bled/ 
pe  hule  was  wro)?,  to  cheste  rad, 

mid  J?isse  worde  hire  e^en  abrad  : 
1045  <-pu  seist  ]?u  witest  manne  bures, 

J?ar  leues  bo)?  &  faire  flores, 

)?ar  two  iloue  in  one  bedde 

ligge)?  bi-clop  &  wel  bi-hedde. 

Enes  )?u  sunge,  ic  wod  wel  ware, 
1050 bi  one  bure,  &  woldest  lere 

)?e  lefdi  to  an  uuel  luue, 

an  sunge  bo)?e  lo^e  &  buue, 

an  lerdest  hi  to  don  shome 

an  vn-ri^t  of  hire  licome. 
1055  pe  lou^rd  J?at  sone  und^r-^at, 

liim  &  grinew,  wel  ei-wat, 

sette  &  ledde  J?e  [for  to]  lacche. 

pu  come  sone  to  J?an  hacche,         Fol.  240  v,  col.  a. 

j?u  were  [inume]  in  one  gr/'ne, 
io6oal  hit  abo^te  ]?ine  shine  : 

J?u  naddest  non  o]?^r  dom  ne  la^e, 

1056  liim,  no  Jots  j  Wr.%  St.,  limi,  &r.  liim. —  1057  forto.  — 
1059  in  ume. 


Ww  ®tol  ana  ttje  jptgljtmgale       87 

For  ic  of  chirche-songe  singe. 

Hit  wes  isayd  in  olde  lawe, 

pat  yet  ilast  J?ilke  so}>-sawe, 

pat  mow  schal  eryen  &  sowe, 
1040  par  he  wene]?  after  god  mowe  : 

For  he  is  wod  j?at  sowe)?  his  sed 

par  neuer  gras  ne  springp  ne  bled.' 
pe  vie  wes  wro)>,  to  cheste  rad, 

Mid  J?isse  word*?  hire  eyen  a-braid  : 
1045  lpu  seyst  J?u  witest  mowne  bures, 

par  leues  beoj?  &  fayre  flures, 

par  two  yleoue  in  one  bedde 

LiggeJ?  i-clupt  &  wel  bi-hedde. 

Enes  Jm  sunge,  ic  wot  wel  hware, 
1050  Bi  one  bure,  &  woldest  lere 

pe  leuedi  to  an  vuel  lyue, 

&  [sunge]  bo]?e  lowe  &  buue, 

&  leredest  hi  to  don  schome 

&  vnriht  of  hire  lichome. 
1055  pe  lou^rd  J?at  sone  vnder-yat, 

Lym  &  grune  &  wel  ihwat, 

Sette  &  leyde  J?e  for  to  lacche. 

pu  come  sone  to  J?an  hacche, 

pu  were  ynume  in  one  grune, 
1060  Al  hit  abouhte  )?ine  schine  :  Fol.  236  v,  col.  2. 

pu  neddest  non  o]?er  dom  ne  lawe, 

1052  singe. 


88       t&ty  ®fcol  ana  t^e  jpig&tmple 

bute  mid  wilde  horse  were  to-dra^e. 

Vonde  yi  \\i  mi^t  eft  mis-rede, 

wajw  J?u  wult,  wif  }?e  maide  : 
1065  Jn  song  mai  bo  so  longe  genge 

)?at  J;u  shalt  wippen  on  a  sprenge.' 
pe  ni^tingale  at  j?isse  worde, 

mid  sworde  an  mid  spares  orde, 

}if  ho  mon  were,  wolde  fl^te  : 
1070  ac  j?o  ho  bet  do  n»  mi^te, 

ho  ua$t  mid  hire  wise  tunge. 

1  Wei  fi$t  )?at  wel  spec)?,'  seij?  in  pe  songe. 

Of  hire  tunge  ho  nom  red  : 

1  Wel  fi}t  |?at  wel  spec}?,'  seide  Alured. 
1075      '  Wat !   seistu  |?is  for  mine  shome  ? 

pe  louml  hadde  her-of  gr^me. 

He  was  so  gelus  of  his  wiue, 

J?at  he  ne  mi^te  for  his  liue 

iso  J>at  man  wi}>  hire  speke, 
1080  J?at  his  horte  nolde  breke. 

He  hire  bileck  in  one  bure, 

}>at  hire  was  bo)?e  stronge  &  sure  : 

ich  hadde  of  hire  milse  an  ore, 

an  sori  was  for  hire  sore, 
1085  an  skente  hi  mid  mine  songe 

al  )>at  ich  mi^te  raj?e  an  longe. 

Vor-J?an  pe  knijt  was  wi);  me  wro)>, 

1070  mhte,Jjrst  t  deleted,  j  above  in  ?  different  ink. 


Wqt  ®tol  anu  tlje  jptgtjtingale       89 

Bute  myd  wilde  hors  [were]  to-drawe. 

Vondf  if  \\x  myht  eft  mys-rede, 

Hwe)?er  )?u  wilt,  wif  J?e  meyde  : 
1065  pi  song  mai  beo  so  longe  genge 

pat  \\i  schalt  hwippen  on  a  sprenge.' 
pe  [njihtegale  at  j?isse  worde, 

Mid  swerde  &  myd  speres  orde, 

If  heo  mow  were,  wolde  vyhte  : 
1070  Ac  )?o  heo  bet  do  ne  [m]ihte, 

Heo  vauht  myd  hire  wise  tunge. 

'  Wei  viht  \?X  wel  spekj;,'   sey);  \n  }?e  sowge. 

Of  hire  tunge  heo  nom  red  : 

1  Wel  viht  j?at  wel  spek]?,'   seyd^  Alural. 
1075      '  Hwat !   seystu  J?is  for  myne  schome  ? 

pe  lou<?rd  hadde  her-of  grome. 

He  wes  so  gelus  of  his  wyue, 

pat  he  ne  myhte  vor  his  lyue 

Iseo  J?at  mow  wij?  hire  speke, 
1080  pat  his  heorte  [njolde  breke. 

He  hire  bilek  in  one  bure, 

pat  hire  was  stronge  &  sure : 

Ic  hadde  of  hire  [m]  ilce  &  ore, 

And  sori  was  for  hire  sore, 
1085  &  skente  hi  mid  myne  songe 

Al  )?at  ic  mihte  ra]?e  &  longe. 

Vor-j?an  j?e  knyht  wes  wij>  me  wroj?, 

1062  were  omitted.  —  1067  Nihtegale.  —  1070  Mihte.  —  1080 
wolde.  —  1083  Mike. 


90       W$t  ®toi  anD  tfte  jptg&tmgale 

vor  ri^te  nij>e  ich  was  him  loj; : 

he  dude  me  his  o^ene  shome, 
1090  ac  al  him  turnde  it  to  grome. 

pat  under-wat  J?e  king  Henri, 

Jesus  his  soule  do  merci !  Fol.  241  r,  col.  1. 

He  let  for-bonne  )?ene  kni^t 

J?at  hadde  i-don  so  muchel  un-ri^t 
1095  ine  so  gode  kinges  londe, 

vor  ri^te  nij?e  &  for  fule  onde 

let  J?ane  lutle  fu^el  nime 

an  him  for-deme  lif  an  lime. 

Hit  was  wrj?-sipe  al  mine  kunne 
iioofor-Jxm  J?e  kni^t  forles  his  wunne, 

an  ^af  for  me  an  hundred  punde : 

an  mine  briddes  seten  isunde, 

an  hadde  so);J?e  blisse  &  hi^te, 

an  were  bli)?e  &  wel  mi^te. 
no5Vor-J?on  ich  was  so  wel  a-wreke, 

eu*r  eft  ich  dart  J?e  bet  speke : 

vor  hit  bitidde  ene  swo, 

ich  am  )?e  bli)?ur  eu^r  mo. 

Nu  ich  mai  singe  war  ich  wulle, 
1  none  dar  me  neu^r  eft  mon  agrulle. 

Ac  J?u,  eremi  [n]  g  !  J?u  wrecche  gost ! 

]?u  ne  canst  finde,  ne  J?u  nost, 

an  hoi}  stok  J?ar  J?u  J?e  mi}t  hude, 

1 106  dart,  perhaps  darrj   Str.  darr.  —  I II I  eremig. 


®tie  <&M  ana  tfce  jfttgtjtmgale       9  * 

Vor  rihte  ny)?e  ic  wes  him  lo]? : 

He  dude  me  his  owe  schome, 
1090  Ac  al  hit  twrnde  him  eft  to  grome. 

pat  vnd^ryat  J?e  kyng  Henri, 

y^w  his  soule  do  mercy  ! 

He  let  for-bonne  ]?ene  knyht 

pat  hadde  i-do  svich  vnriht  Fol.  237  r,  col.  1. 

1095  In  so  gode  kynges  londe, 

For  rihte  nyj?e  &  ful  onde 

Let  J?ane  lytel  fowel  nyme 

&  him  for-deme  lif  and  lyme. 

Hit  wes  wrj?-sipe  al  myne  kunne 
uooFor-J?on  J?e  kniht  fur-les  his  wnne, 

&  yaf  for  me  an  hundred  punde : 

&  myne  briddes  seten  y-sunde, 

&  hedde  se)?J?e  blisse  and  hihte, 

&  were  blij?e  &  wel  myhte. 
uo5Vor-J?an  ic  wes  so  wel  awreke, 

Eu<?r  eft  ich  dar  J?e  bet  speke : 

For  hit  bi-tydde  ene  so, 

Ich  am  J?e  bli)?ure  euer  mo. 

Nu  ic  may  singe  hwar  ic  wile, 
moNe  dar  me  neu^r  eft  mow  agrwlle. 

Ac  J?u,  ermyng !   ]?u  wrecche  gost  ! 

pu  ne  canst  fynde,  ne  ]?u  nost, 

An  holeh  stoc  hwar  ]?u  ]?e  mist  hud*, 

1092  Ih'c. 


)?at  me  ne  twenge)?  J?ine  hude. 
insVor  children,  gn?mes,  heme  &  hine, 

hi  J?enche)?  alle  of  J?ire  pine  : 

}if  hi  mu^e  iso  j?e  sitte, 

stones  hi  do)?  in  hore  slitte, 

an  J?e  to-torued  h  to-hene)?, 
1 1 20  an  J?ine  fule  bon  to-shene)?. 

3  if  )?u  art  i-worpe  o\er  i-shote, 

)?anne  }?u  mi$t  erest  to  note. 

Vor  me  J?e  ho]?  in  one  rodde, 

an  )?u,  mid  |?ine  fule  codde, 
1 1 25  an  mid  )?ine  ateliche  spore, 

bi-werest  manne  corn  urom  dore.  Fol.  241  r, 

Nis  no\>er  no^t,  ]?i  lif  ne  )?i  blod  :  co1,  2- 

ac  }?u  art  shueles  su]?e  god. 

par  nowe  sedes  bo)?  isowe, 
ii3opinnuc,  golfinc,  rok,  ne  crowe, 

ne  dar  )?ar  neu^r  cumen  i-hende 

}if  )?i  buc  honge)?  at  )?an  ende. 

par  tron  shulle  a-^ere  blowe, 

an  }unge  sedes  springe  &  growe, 
ii35ne  dar  no  fu^el  J?arto  uonge 

}if  )?u  art  J?ar-oiuT  ihonge. 

pi  lif  is  eure  \u]>er  &  qued, 

)?u  nard  no}t  bute  ded. 

Nu  )?u  mi^t  wite  sik^rliche 

1 1 30  pinnuc.  golfinc.  .  —  11 35  fuejel,  first  e  deleted,  second  e 
on  an  1. 


®tje  ®tol  ana  tfce  jptgtitmgale       93 

pat  me  ne  twenge  pine  hude. 
msVor  children,  grimes,  heme  &  hine, 

Hi  penchep  alle  of  pine  pine : 

If  hi  mowe  i-seo  pe  sitte, 

Stones  hi  dop  in  heore  slytte, 

&  pe  to-toruep  &  to-henep, 
1120&  pine  fule  bon  to-schenep. 

If  pu  art  i-worpe  oper  i-scote, 

penne  pu  myht  erest  to  note. 

Vor  me  pe  hop  in  one  rodde, 

&  pu,  myd  pine  fule  codde, 
1125&  myd  pine  ateliche  sweore, 

Bi-werest  mowne  corn  from  deore. 

Nis  noup^r  nouht,  pi  lif  ne  blod  : 

Ac  pu  art  sheules  swipe  god.  Fol.  237  r,  col.  2. 

par  newe  sedes  beop  isowe, 
ii3oPynnuc,  goldfynch,  rok,  ne  crowe, 

Ne  dar  neu^r  cumen  i-hende 

If  pi  buk  hongep  at  pan  ende. 

par  treon  schullep  a-yer  blowe, 

&  yonge  sedes  spr/nge  &  growe, 
ii35Ne  dar  no  fuoel  par-to  fonge 

If  pu  art  par-ouer  i-honge. 

pi  lif  is  euer  luper  and  qued, 

pu  nart  nouht  bute  ded. 

Nv  pu  myht  wite  sik^rliche 


94       Ww  ®tol  ana  tfje  jptgtitmgai* 

ii4o)?at  ]?ine  leches  boj?  grisliche 

J?e  wile  ]?u  art  on  lif-da^e  : 

vor  wane  )?u  hongest  i-sla^e, 

3ut  hi  bo]?  of  ]?e  of-dradde, 

)?e  fu^eles  )?at  J?e  er  bi-gradde. 
1 145  Mid  ri^te  men  boj?  wij?  J?e  wroj?e, 

for  ]?u  singist  eu^r  of  hore  lo)?e  j 

al  J?at  ]?u  singst  raj?e  o\er  late, 

hit  is  eu*r  of  manne  un-wate: 

wane  ]?u  hauest  a-ni^t  igrad, 
1 1 50  men  bo]?  of  )?e  wel  sore  of-drad. 

pu  singst  J?ar  sura  man  shal  be  ded : 

euer  J?u  bodest  sumne  qued. 

pu  singst  a^en  ei^te  lure, 

o]?er  of  summe  frondes  rurej 
ii55oJ?er  ]?u  bodes  [t]  huses  brune, 

olper  ferde  of  manne,  o\>er  ]?oues  rune ; 

oper  ]?u  bodest  cualm  of  oreue, 

ctyer  )?at  lond-folc  wur]?  i-dorue, 

o]?*r  )?at  wif  lost  hire  make  ; 
u6oo)?£r  J?u  bodest  cheste  an  sake.       Fol.  241  v,  col.  1. 

Euer  ]?u  singist  of  manne  hareme, 

[]?u]  r$  ]?e  hi  bo)?  sori  &  areme : 

]?u  ne  singst  neu^r  one  si]?e, 

)?at  hit  nis  for  sum  un-si)?e. 
u65Her-uore  hit  is  ]?at  me  J?e  shune)?, 

1143   bob,  o  altered  from  a  d.  —  1155   bodes. — 1162   ?  merj 
altered  to  ?  )>urj. 


Wt)t  <&M  ana  t\)t  Jliigtittngale       95 

1 140  pat  ]nne  leches  beoj?  grisliche 

pe  hwile  ]?u  art  on  lyf-daye  : 

Vor  hwenne  }m  hongest  i-slawe, 

Yet  hi  beo)?  of  J?e  at-dradde, 

pe  foweles  J?at  J>e  er  bigradde. 
1 145  Mid  rihte  men  beoj;  wij;  J?e  wroJ?e, 

For  j?u  singest  of  heore  loJ>e  ; 

Al  J?at  ]?u  singest  ra]?e  o)?er  late, 

Hit  is  eu^r  of  mannes  vnhwate  : 

Hwanne  )?u  hauest  a-nyht  igrad, 
ii5oMen  beo]?  of  J?e  wel  sore  aferd. 

pu  singst  J?ar  [su//z  man]  sal  beo  ded : 

Euer  ]?u  bodest  sumne  qued. 

pu  singst  a-yeyn  ayhte  lure, 

Oj?er  of  summe  vrendes  rure  ; 
ii55  0j?er  ]?u  bodest  huses  brune, 

Olper  ferde  of  manne,  o]?er  )?eues  run  [e]  ; 

0)>er  J?u  bodest  qualm  of  orue, 

0\er  |?at  londfolc  wr|;  i-dorue, 

Olper  J?at  wif  leost  hire  make  ; 
ii6oO]w  )?u  bodest  cheste  and  sake. 

Euer  )?u  singest  of  manne  harme, 

purh  j?e  hi  beo]?  <sorie  &  arme  :      Fol.  437  v,  col.  1. 

pu  ne  singest  neuer  one  syj?e, 

pat  hit  nys  for  summe  vn-sy]?e. 
n65Her-vore  hit  is  J?at  me  J?e  sunej;, 

1 1 5  1  su/wman.  —  1 1 5  6  rune,  e  cut  off. 


96       Ctje  ®tol  ana  ttje  j^tgtjtmgale 

an  pe  to-toruep  &  to-bunep 

mid  staue,  &  stoone,  &  turf,  &  clute, 

pat  pu  ne  mi^t  no-war  at-rute. 

[Dahet]  euer  suich  budel  in  tune 
1 1 70  fat  euer  bode)?  un-wreste  rune, 

an  eu*r  bringep  vuele  tipinge, 

an  pat  eu^r  spec])  of  vuele  pinge ! 

God  Al-mi^ti  wrpe  him  wrop, 

an  al  pat  weriep  linnene  clop/ 
1175      pe  hule  ne  abot  no^t  swip[e]  longe, 

ah  3efond-sware  starke  &  stronge  : 

1  Wat ! '  quap  ho,  l  hartu  ihoded  ? 

oper  pu  kursest  al  un-ihoded  ? 

For  prestes  wike  ich  wat  pu  dest. 
n8oIch  not  }ef  pu  were  }aure  prest; 

ich  not  }ef  pu  canst  masse  singe; 

inoh  pu  canst  of  mansinge. 

Ah  hit  is  for  pine  aide  nipe, 

\at  pu  me  akursedest  o3er  sifte : 
1 1 85  ah  parto  is  liht-lich  ond-sware; 

u  Drah  to  pe  !  "  cwap  pe  cartare. 

Wi  attwitestu  me  mine  in-sihte, 

an  min  i-wit,  &  mine  mi^te  ? 

For  ich  am  witi  ful  i-wis, 
1 190 an  wod  al  }wt  to  kumen  is  : 

1 167  stoone,  -very  like  stocne. —  1169  da  het. —  1 175  s\vij>,  \> 
dotted.  —  1 1 83  ni^e,  on  erasure.  —  1 1 84  slight  erasure  after 
\>at. 


Wi)t  ®tol  ana  ttje  jpigfttingale       97 

&  J?e  to-torueJ>  &  to-bunej? 

Mid  staue,  &  stone,  &  turf,  &  clute, 

pat  ]m  ne  myht  noware  at-rute. 

Dahet  euer  budel  in  tune 
1 1 70  pat  bede}?  vnwreste  rune, 

&  euer  bringej?  vuele  tydinge, 

&  ]?at  speke]?  of  vuele  J?inge  ! 

God  Al-myhti  wr]?e  him  wroj?, 

&  al  ]>at  were];  lynnene  clo]?.' 
1175      pe  vie  nabod  noht  swi]?e  longe, 

Ac  yef  answere  stark  &  stronge : 

8  Hwat ! '  que);  heo,  c  ertu  ihoded  ? 

Oj?er  )?u  cursest  vn-ihoded  ? 

For  prestes  wike  ich  wat  J;u  dest. 
n8oIch  not  if  J?u  were  preost; 

Ich  not  if  Jm  canst  masse  singe; 

Inouh  J?u  canst  of  [m]ansynge. 

Ac  hit  is  for  j?ine  olde  ny]?e, 

pat  pu  me  acursedest  oJ>er  si]?e : 
1 185 Ac  J^ar-to  is  lihtlych  answere; 

"  Drah  to  ]?e  !  "  que]?  }?e  kartere. 

Hwi  atwitestu  me  myne  iwsihte, 

&  [m]  in  iwit,  &  myne  myhte  ? 

For  ich  am  [witi]  ful  iwis, 
1190&  [w]od  al  pat  to  comen  is: 

1182  Mansynge.  —  1188  Min.  —  1 189  am  t>in  ful.  —  1190 
J>od,  \>  or  wen. 


98       tE^e  @tol  and  ttje  jj^tingaU 

ich  wot  of  hunger,  of  her-gonge  ; 

ich  wot  }ef  men  schule  libbe  longe ; 

ich  wat  $ef  wif  luste  hire  make  ; 

ich  wat  [w]ar  schal  beo  ni]?  &  wrake ;  Foi.  241  v, 
1 195  ich  wot  hwo  schal  beon   [an-]honge,  co1-  *■ 

o)?er  elles  fulne  de]?  a-fonge. 

^ef  men  habbej?  bataile  inume, 

ich  wat  hwa]?er  schal  beo/z  ou^r-kume; 

ich  wat  }if  cwalm  seal  comen  on  orfe  5 
1200  an  ^if  dor  schul  ligge  &  storue ; 

ich  wot  }ef  treon  schule  blowe ; 

ich  wat  ^ef  cornes  schule  growe ; 

ich  wot  $ef  huses  schule  berne; 

ich  wot  ^ef  men  schule  eorne  o\er  erne ; 
1205  ich  wot  ^ef  sea  schal  schipes  drenche ; 

ich  wot  ^ef  snuwes  schal  uuele  clenche. 

An  }et  ich  con  muchel  more  : 

ich  con  inoh  in  bokes  lore, 

an  eke  ich  can  of  )>e  Godd-spelle 
i2iomore  J?an  ich  nule  J?e  telle  : 

for  ich  at  chirche  come  ilome, 

an  muche  leorni  of  wisdome  ; 

ich  wat  al  of  J>e  tacninge, 

an  of  o]?er  feole  }?inge. 
i2i5^ef  eni  mon  schal  rem  abide, 

al  ich  hit  wot  ear  hit  itide. 

1 1 9  5  &  honge.  —  1 202  growe,  u  altered  to  wen.  —  1 206  snuwes 
or  smiles,  no  dots. 


W$t  ®iol  ant)  tlje  jptgljtmgale       99 

Ich  wot  of  hunger,  of  heregowge  ; 

Ich  wot  if  men  sulle  libbe  lowge  j 

Ic  wot  if  wif  lust  hire  make  ; 

Ic  wot  hwar  sal  beo  nij?  &  wrake; 
ii95lch  wot  hwo  sal  beo  an-honge, 

Oj>er  elles  fulne  dej?  a-vonge. 

If  men  habbe]?  batayle  i-nume, 

Ic  w[o]t  hwa];er  sal  beo  ouercume; 

Ic  wot  if  qualm  sal  cumen  on  orve;      Fol.  137  v, 
1200  &  if  deor  schulle  ligge  a-storue;  co1,  *• 

Ic  wot  if  tren  schulle  blowe ; 

Ic  wot  if  corn  schulle  growe ; 

Ic  wot  if  huses  schulle  berne ; 

Ic  wot  if  men  sulle  eorne  oJ?er  erne ; 
1205  Ic  wot  if  sea  sal  sch[i]pes  drenche ; 

Ic  wot  if  s  [m]  ithes  sale  vuele  clench*. 

&  ic  con  muchele  more : 

Ic  con  ynouh  in  bokes  lore, 

&  ek  ic  can  of  J?e  Godspelle 
i2ioMore  J?an  ic  wile  )?e  telle: 

Vor  ic  at  chireche  cume  ilome, 

&  muchel  leorny  of  wisdome; 

Ic  wot  al  of  J?e  toknynge, 

&  of  o);er  vale  ]?inge. 
i2i5lf  eny  mow  schal  rem  a-bide, 

Al  ic  hit  wot  ar  hit  i-tyde. 

1 198  wt.  —  1205  schipes,  dot  follows  h,  but  i  is  omitted. — 
1 206  sMithes,  first  stroke  of  M  oblique,  as  if  w  had  been  begun. 


ioo     Ctje  @tol  antj  t^e  Nightingale 

Ofte,  for  mine  muchele  i-witte, 

wel  sori-mod  &  w[ro])?  ich  sitte : 

wan  ich  i-seo  \at  sum  wrechede 
1220  is  manne  neh,  [innoh]  ich  grede ; 

ich  bidde  \at  men  beon  iwar[r]e, 

an  habbe  gode  reades  }ar[r]e. 

For  Alfred  seide  a  wis  word, 

euch  mon  hit  schulde  legge  on  hord, 
i22s«^ef  )?u  i-sihst  [er]  he  beo  i-cume, 

his  str[e]nc)?e  is  him  wel  neh  bi-nume." 

An  grete  dilutes  beo}?  )?e  lasse, 

^ef  me  i-kep)?  mid  i-warnesse,        Fol.  242  r,  col.  1. 

an  fleo  schal  to-ward  mis-^enge, 
1230  ^ef  J?u  i-sihst  hu  fleo  of  strenge ; 

for  )?u  mi}t  blenche  wel  &  fleo, 

2Jf  j?u  i-sihst  heo  to  \>e  teo. 

pat  eni  man  beo  falle  in  od-wite, 

wi  schal  he  me  his  sor  at-wite  ? 
1235  pah  ich  iseo  his  harm  bi-uore, 

ne  come);  hit  no^t  of  me  )?ar-uare. 

pah  )>u  iseo  \at  sum  blind  mon, 

]>at  nanne  rihtne  wei  ne  con, 

to  )?are  diche  his  dweole  fulied, 
1240  an  falle)?,  and  J?ar-one  sulied, 

wenest  J?u,  )?ah  ich  al  iseo, 

121 8  wor>.  —  1220  in  noh.  —  1 221,  1222  iwarte,  jarte.  — 
1225  space  between  isihst  and  he.  —  1226  strnc)*.  —  I227duwtes, 
•very  like  drives. 


W$t  @tol  ana  ttje  jftigtjtmgale      i  o  i 

Ofte,  vor  myne  muchele  witte, 

Wei  sori-mod  &  wro]?  I  sytte : 

Hwanne  ic  i-seo  J?er  sum  wrecchede 
1220  Is  cumynde  neyh,  i-noh  ic  grede; 

Ic  bidde  }?er  men  beon  warre, 

&  habbe  gode  redes  yare. 

Vor  Alur<?d  seyde  a  wis  word, 

Vych  mow  hit  schold*  legge  on  hord, 
1225 "If  J7U  isyst  her  heo  beo  i-cume, 

His  strengj?e  is  him  wel  neyh  binume." 

&  grete  duntes  beo}?  )?e  lasse, 

If  me  i-kepej?  myd  i-warnesse, 

&  fleo  schal  toward  mis-yenge, 
i23oIf  |?u  isihst  hw  fleo  of  strenge; 

For  J?u  myht  blenche  &  fleo, 

If  j?u  isihst  heo  to  )?e  teo. 

pauh  [eny  mow]  beo  falle  in  edwite, 

Hwi  schal  [he]  me  his  sor  at-wite  ? 
1235  pauh  ic  i-seo  his  harm  bi-vore, 

Ne  cumej?  hit  nouht  of  me  )?ar-fore.       Foi.  238  r, 

pah  J?u  iseo  J?at  sum  blynd  mon,  co1-  *• 

pat  nanne  [rihtne]  wey  ne  con, 

To  )?are  diche  his  dwele  volewej?, 
i24o&  falle]?,  &  J?ar-onne  suliej?, 

Wenestu,  ]?ah  ic  al  i-seo, 

1233  enymon.  —  1234  schal  me.  —  1238  riht  ne. 


102      tTtie  <Dtol  ana  ttjr  j^tgljttngaie 

]>at  hit  for  me  J;e  raj^ere  beo  ? 

Al  swo  hit  fare}?  bi  mine  witte : 

hwanne  ich  on  mine  bowe  sitte, 
1245  ich  wot  &  i-seo  swi)?e  brihte 

an  summe  men  kumed  harm  J?ar  rihte. 

Schal  he,  J?at  \>er-of  noting  not, 

hit  wite  me  for  ich  hit  wot  ? 

Schal  he  his  mis-hap  wite  me, 
1250 for  ich  am  wisure  J?ane  he? 

Hwanne  ich  iseo  \at  sum  wrechede 

is  manne  neh,  inoh  ich  grede, 

an  bidde  inoh  }>at  hi  heom  schilde, 

for  to-ward  heom  is  [harm  unmilde]. 
1255  Ah  }?ah  ich  grede  lude  an  stille, 

al  hit  itid  Jmr[h]   Godes  wille. 

Hwi  wullej?  men  of  me  [hi  mene] , 

J?ah  ich  mid  soj?e  heo  a-wene  ? 

pah  ich  hi  warni  al  \at  }er, 
i26onis  heom  ^r-fore  harem  no  J?e  ner : 

ah  ich  heom  singe  for  ich  wolde     Fol.  242  r,  col.  2. 

\at  hi  wel  under-stonde  schulde 

\at  sum  un-sel)>e  heom  is  i-hende, 

hwan  ich  min  huing  to  heow  sende. 
1265  Naue)>  no  man  none  siker-hede 

1252  neh,  e  on  erasure.  —  1254  line  vacant  after  is.  —  1256 
burb.  —  1257  himene.  —  1264  huing,  u  obscure,  o  or  c  on  u,  h 
deleted,  s  above  h,  changes  are  later  j  Str.  hoing,  St.  soing,  Wr. 
song. 


W$z  ®M  ana  ttje  j£igt)tmgale      103 

pat  hit  for  me  J?e  raj?er  beo  ? 

Al  so  hit  fare];  bi  [m]  ine  witte : 

panne  ic  on  myne  bowe  sitte, 
1245  Ic  wot  &  i-seo  swij?e  brihte 

pat  summe  men  cume]?  harm  ]?ar  rihte. 

Sal  he,  |?ar  he  nowiht  not, 

Hit  wite  me  vor  ic  hit  wot  ? 

Sal  he  his  myshap  wyten  me, 
1250 Vor  ic  am  wisure  |?an  he? 

Hwanne  ic  i-seo  )>at  sum  wreched* 

Is  manne  neyh,  inouh  ic  grede, 

&  bidde  inouh  \at  hi  heow  schilde, 

Vor  toward  heow  is  harm  vnmyld^. 
1255  Ac  )?ah  ic  grede  lude  and  stille, 

Al  i-wurj>  Godes  wille. 

Hwi  wulle]?  men  of  me  mene, 

pah  ic  mid  so]?e  heo  awene  ? 

pah  ic  hi  warny  al  |?at  yer, 
1260  Nis  heow  J>ar-vore  [harem]  j?e  ner: 

Ac  ich  singe  vor  ich  wolde 

per  hi  wel  vnderstonde  scholde 

pat  sum  vnsel  heom  is  ihende, 

Hwen  ic  myn  huyng  to  heom  send*\ 
1265  NaueJ?  mon  no  sikerhede 

1243   Mine.  —  1246  rihte,  te  above  line  for  space.  —  1260 
a  tem. 


104     Ctje  <£tol  ant)  rtjc  j^tgtjtingale 

J^/  he  ne  mai  wene  &  a-drede 

]>at  sum  un-hwate  ne[y]  him  beo, 

)?ah  he  ne  [cowne]   hit  i-seo. 

For-jn  seide  Alfred  swij^e  wel, 
1270 and  his  worde  was  Godd-spel, 

\at  eu^r-euch  man,  J?e  bet  him  beo, 

eauer  )?e  bet  he  [hine]  be-seo : 

ne  truste  no  mon  to  his  weole 

to  swij^e,  J>ah  he  habbe  ueole. 
1275  Nis  [nout]  so  hot  ]wt  hit  na-cole)?, 

ne  no^t  so  hwit  \at  hit  ne  sole};, 

ne  no^t  so  leof  \at  hit  ne  aio)?ej?, 

ne  no^t  so  glad  \>at  hit  ne  a-wroJ?eJ?: 

ac  eau^re-euh  )>ing  \at  eche  nis, 
1280 agon  schal,  &  al  )>is  worldes  blis. 

Nu  j?u  mi$t  wite  readliche, 

\at  eau^re  J?u  spekest  gideliche  : 

for  al  ]iat  ]m  me  seist  for  schame, 

euer  J?e  seolue  hit  turnej?  to  grome. 
1285  Go  so  hit  go,  at  eche  fenge 

J?u  fallest  mid  j?ine  ahene  swewge; 

al  \at  J)u  seist  for  me  to  schende, 

hit  is  mi  wurschipe  at  )>an  ende. 

Bute  J?u  wille  bet  aginne, 

1267  ney,  y  very  like  \>  or  wen.  — 1268  con  ne.  —  1272  hi 
ne.  — 1275  non  or  nou,  ?  orig.  t  above  \  Str.t  Wr.%  St.  nout; 
hot.  . — 1276  hwit.  .  —  1277  leof.  . — 1278  glad.  . — 1288  mi, 
no  dot. 


W$z  ®tol  anti  ttje  jpigtjtingale      1 05 

pat  he  ne  may  wene  &  a-drede 

pat  sum  vnhap  neih  him  beo, 

pah  he  ne  cunne  hit  i-seo. 

For-J?i  seydf  Alur^d  swtye  wel, 
1270  &  his  word  was  Godspel, 

pat  eumch  mon,  J?e  bet  [him]  beo, 

Euer  ]>e  bet  he  him  bi-seo : 

Ne  triste  no  mon  to  his  wele         Fol.  238  r,  col.  2. 

To  swi]?e,  )>a[h]  he  habbe  uele. 
1275  Nis  noht  so  hot  J?at  hit  na-colej?, 

Ne  noht  so  hwit  J?at  hit  [ne  sole}?], 

Ne  noht  so  leof  J>at  hit  nalo]?eJ>, 

Ne  noht  so  glad  J?at  hit  nawre]?ej?: 

Ac  eumch  ];ing  )?at  eche  nys, 
1280  Agon  schal,  &  al  ]>is  worldes  blis. 

Nu  Jm  miht  witen  redeliche, 

pat  euer  J;u  spekest  gidiliche  : 

For  al  J?u  me  seyst  vor  schame, 

Euer  J?e  [seolue]  hit  turnej;  to  grome. 
1285  Go  so  hit  go,  at  eche  fenge 

pu  vallest  myd  }>in  owe  swenge; 

Al  j?at  ]?u  sayst  for  me  to  schende, 

Hit  is  my  wrp>sipe  at  J?an  ende. 

Bute  J?u  wille  bet  a-gynne, 

1271  bet  beo.  —  1274   bat.  —  1276  nesoleb. — 1277   noh,  t 
inserted.  —  1284  soule. 


106     W$t  a^toi  ana  tfce  j£i<g#tmgal£ 

1290  ne  shaltu  bute  schame  i-winne.' 
pe  ni^tingale  sat  &  si$te, 

&  hoh-ful  was,  &  ful  wel  mi^te, 

for  J?e  hule  swo  ispeke  hadde, 

an  hire  speche  swo  iladde.  Foi.  242  v,  col.  1. 

1295  Heo  was  how-ful,  &  erede 

hwat  heo  J?ar-after  hire  sede: 

ah  neo]?eles  heo  hire  under-stod. 

1  Wat !  '  heo  seide,  '  hule,  artu  wod  ? 

pu  ^eolpest  of  seolliche  wisdome, 
1300)711  [nus]test  wanene  he  ]?e  come, 

bute  hit  of  wicchecrefte  were. 

par-of  ]?u,  wrecche,  moste  )?e  skere 

}if  j?u  wult  among  manne  b  [eo] : 

oj?er  ]?u  most  of  londe  fleo. 
1305  For  alle  J?eo  ]iat  [J?]  er-of  cu]?e 

heo  uere  i-furn  of  prestes  mu]?e 

amanset :  swuch  )?u  art  ^ette, 

]?u  wiecche-crafte  neau^r  ne  lete. 

Ich  J?e  seide  nu  lutel  ere, 
13 ioan  j?u  askedest  }ef  ich  were 

abisemere  to  preost  ihoded. 

Ah  J?e  mansing  is  so  ibroded, 

]?ah  no  preost  a  londe  nere, 

a  wrecche  neo)?eles  J;u  were: 

1300  mijteSt,  no  dot,  ]  altered  to  s.  —  1 303  boe.  —  1305  ber,  b 
dotted.  — 1306  uere  or  nere,  u  deleted,  marg.  w  in  different  ink. 


W$z  ®tol  anu  t^e  jpigttfingale     107 

1*90  Ne  schaltu  bute  schame  i-wynne.' 
pe  nyhtegale  sat  and  syhte, 

&  hauhful  was,  &  wel  myhte, 

For  J?e  vie  so  i-speke  hadde, 

And  hire  speche  so  i-ladde. 
1295  Heo  wes  houhful,  and  erede 

Hwat  heo  J?ar-after  hire  seyde  : 

Ac  no|?eles  heo  hire  vnderstod. 

4  Hwat !  '  heo  seyde,  c  vie,  [artu]  wod  ? 

pu  yelpest  of  selliche  wisdome, 
1300  pu  nustest  hwenne  hit  j?e  come, 

Bute  hit  of  wicchecrafte  were. 

par-of  j?u,  wrecche,  most  ]?e  skere 

If  J?u  wilt  a-mo»g  manne  beo  : 

Oj?er  pu  most  of  londe  fleo. 
1305  Vor  alle  J?eo  ]?at  J?er-of  cu]?e 

Heo  weren  ifurn  of  prestes  muj?e 

Amansed :  such  [J?u]  art  yette. 
#       „  *  *  *  * 

Ic  J?e  seyde  nv  lutel  ere, 
1310&  j?u  askedest  if  ich  were 

A  bysemare  to  preoste  i-hoded.     Fol.  238  v,  col.  1. 

Ac  )?e  mansyng  is  so  i-broded, 

pauh  no  preost  a  londe  nere, 

A  wrecche  na]?eles  J?u  were: 

1298  ar  tu.  —  1300  nustest  "very  like  mistest,  no  dot,  third  stroke 
has  up  tick.  —  1307  such  art.  —  1308  line  omitted. 


108      W$t  @tol  anD  ttic  jpigfctingale 

13 15  for  eau^r-euch  chil[d]  ]?e  cleopej?  fule, 

an  eu^r-euch  man  a  wrecche  hule. 

Ich  habbe  iherd,  &  so]?  hit  is, 

J?e  mon  mot  beo  wel  storre-wis 

an  wite  innoj?  of  wucche  j?i«ge  kxime 
1320  so  )?u  seist  \at  is  i-wune. 

Hwat  canstu,  wrecche  }?i«g,  of  storre, 

bute  \at  \\i  bi-haitest  hi  feorre  ? 

Alswo  dej?  mani  dor  &  man, 

J?eo  of  [swucche]  na-wiht  ne  con. 
i325  0n  ape  mai  a  bo[c]  bi-halde, 

an  leues  wenderc,  &  eft  folde: 

ac  he  ne  con  ]?e  bet  ]?ar-uore 

of  clerkes  lore  top  ne  more.  Fol.  242  v,  col.  2. 

pah  )?u  i-seo  )?e  steorre  alswa, 
i33onartu  ]?e  wisure  neau^r  j?e  mo. 

Ah  }et  |?u,  fule  )?ing,  me  chist, 

an  wel  grimliche  me  at-wist 

\at  ich  singe  bi  manne  huse, 

an  teache  wif  breke  spuse. 
1335  pu  liest  i-wis,  ]?u  fule  j?ing ! 

J?[urh]  me  nas  neau^r  i-schend  spusing. 

Ah  so)?  hit  is  ich  singe  &  grede 

I  3 15  chil,  later  d  above  ;  fule,  f  on  erasure.  —  1319  ku/ne  de- 
leted, marg.  kume  in  different  ink. —  1320  i  wune,  no  dots.  — 
1321  hwat,  wen  on  erasure.  —  1324  hswucche.  —  1325  boe,  e 
deleted,  c  above  in  ?  different  ink.  —  1334  wift,  t  deleted;  Str. 
wife.  —  1336  \>  me,  cross  line  of  abbreviation  omitted. 


W$t  ®tol  ana  ttje  Nightingale      109 

13 15  For  eumch  chi[l]d  )?e  clepede  fule, 

&  eu^rich  man  a  wreeche  vie. 

Ich  habbe  i-herd,  &  so)?  hit  is, 

pe  mow  mot  beo  wel  sturre-wis 

&  wite  i-noh  of  hwiche  J?i«ge  cume 
1320  So  ]?u  seyst  Ipat  is  iwune. 

Hwat  constu,  wr[e]cche  ]?i«g,  of  stor[r]e, 

Bute  \at  )?u  bihaitest  hi  ferre  ? 

Al  so  do)?  mony  deor  and  man, 

peo  of  suyche  no  wiht  ne  can. 
1325  On  ape  may  on  bok  biholde, 

&  leues  wende,  and  eft  folde : 

Ac  he  ne  con  J?e  bet  )?ar-vore 

Of  clerkes  lore  top  ne  more. 

pey  )?u  i-seo  J?e  steorre  al  so, 
i33oNertu  \\z\  wisere  neu^r  )?e  mo. 

Ac  yet  J?u,  fule  J?i«g,  me  chist, 

&  wel  gr/mlyche  me  at-wist 

pat  ic  singe  bi  manne  huse, 

&  theche  wyue  breke  spuse. 
X335pu  lyest  i-wis,  J?u  fule  j?ing  ! 

purh  me  nes  neu^r  isercd  spusi/zg. 

Ac  so)?  hit  is  ich  singe  &  grede 

1 31 5  chid.  —  1321  wrcche  ;    storie,   later  r    above  i.  —  132a 
bihaitest,  -it-  later  obscurely  corrected.  —  1330  \>u. 


1 1  o     &\)t  ®tol  anD  tyt  jjig^tingal* 

)?ar  lauedies  beo)>  &  faire  maide ; 

&  so)?  hit  is  of  luue  ich  singe: 
1340  for  god  wif  mai  i  spusing 

bet  luuien  hi[r]e  o^ene  were, 

)?ane  awe[r]  hire  copenere  ; 

an  maide  mai  luue  cheose 

\at  hire  wurj?-schipe  ne  for-leose, 
1345  an  luuie  mid  rihte  luue 

J?ane  )^e  schal  beon  hire  buue. 

Swiche  luue  ich  itache  &  lere, 

\er-oi  beoj>  al  mine  i-bere. 

pah  sum  wif  beo  of  nesche  mode, 
1350 for  wu/Bmon  beo)?  of  softe  blode, 

J?at  heo,  \urh  sume  sottes  lore 

J?e  ^eorne  bit  &  sikej?  sore, 

mis-[r]empe  &  mis-do  sumne  stunde, 

schal  ich  J?ar-uore  beon  ibunde  ? 
x355  3^  wiwmen  luuie]?  un-rede, 

hwitestu  me  hore  mis-dede  ? 

^ef  wiwmon  )^enche)>  luuie  derne, 

[ne  mai]  ich  mine  songes  werne. 

1 341  hite,  t  deleted,  r  inserted  above.  —  1 342  awet.  —  1347 
swiche,  c  very  like  t.  —  1351  ofter  heo  crossed  b  (burh)  deleted, 
marg.  for  in  later  hand ;  sottes,  -s  on  erasure.  —  1353  rempe  or 
tempe  deleted,  p  like  b,  marg.  steppe.  —  1357  wuwmon,  on  or  en 
on  erasure.  —  1 358  ne  ne  mai. 


W$t  <Dtol  ana  clje  jfttgtitmgale     1 1 1 

par  leuedis  beo)>  &  feyre  meide ; 

&  so}?  hit  is  of  luue  ich  singe : 
1 340  For  god  wif  may  in  spusinge 

Bet  luuyen  hire  owe  were, 

pan  on  o)?er,  hire  copinere ; 

&  mayde  may  luue  cheose 

pat  hire  trev-schipe  ne  for-leose, 
1345  &  luuye  mid  rihte  luue 

pane  )?at  schal  hire  beo  boue. 

Suyche  luue  ic  theche  &  lere, 

per-oi  beo)?  al  myne  i-lere.  Fol.  238  v,  col.  2. 

pauh  sum  wif  beo  of  neysse  mode, 
i35oVor  wymmen  beo];  of  softe  blode, 

pat  heo,  vor  summe  sottes  lore 

pe  yorne  bit  and  syke)?  sore, 

Mis-nyme  &  mis-do  sume  stunde, 

Schal  ic  |;ar-vore  beo  ibunde? 
1355  Yef  wymmew  luuyej?  for  vnrede, 

Witestu  me  heore  mysdede  ? 

If  wymmow  ]?enche)?  luuye  derne, 

[Ne  may]ic  myne  songes  werne. 

1358  Ne  ne  may. 


1 1 2      {Etje  <£tol  ana  ttje  j^igtjtmgale 

WuOTmon  mai  pleie  under  cloj^e, 
i36o\ve|?e[r]  heo  wile  wel  )?e  wroJ?e  : 

&  heo  mai  do  bi  mine  songe, 

hwa)?er  heo  wule  wel  J?e  wronge.    Fol.  243  r,  col.  1. 

For  nis  a  worlde  }?ing  so  god, 

\at  ne  mai  do  sum  un-god 
1365  ^if  me  hit  wule  turne  amis. 

[Eu^re]  gold  &  seoluer,  god  hit  is : 

an  nof>eles  )?ar-mid  \\i  mi}t 

spus-bruche  buggen,  &  unri^t. 

Wepne  beo)?  gode  gri\>  to  halde  : 
1370 ah  neo)?eles  )?ar-mide  beo)?  men  a-cwalde 

a-^eines  riht  [an]   fale  londe, 

j?ar  )?eoues  hi  bereft  an  honde. 

Alswa  hit  is  bi  mine  songe, 

|?ah  heo  beo  god,  me  [hine]  mai  mis-fonge, 
1375  an  drahe  hine  to  sothede, 

an  to  o)?re  uuele  dede. 

Ah  [schaltu]  ,  wrecch,  luue  tele  ? 

Bo  wuch  [ho  bo] ,  vich  luue  is  fele 

bitweone  wepmon  &  wimmane: 
1 380  ah  ^ef  heo  is  at-broide,  J?enne 

he  is  un-fele  &  for-brode. 

WroJ?  wurj>e  heom  J?e  holi  rode 

)?e  rihte  ikunde  swo  for-breidej? ! 

1360  webet,  t  deleted,  r  abo-ve. —  1366  eor  deleted,  marg. 
cuere.  —  1 371  &  for  Pan,  cp.  ugS- —  1 372  bere5,  h  altered  to 
b.  —  1374  hi  ne. —  1377  sch  altu. —  1378  hobo.  —  1 38 1 
broide,  no  dot,  the  i  deleted. 


Wi)t  <Dtol  ana  tfje  jptgfjtmgale     1 1 3 

Wymmow  may  pleye  vnder  clo)?e, 
i36oHweJ;er  heo  wile  wel  )?e  wroj?e : 

&  heo  may  do  bi  [m]yne  songe, 

Hwe]?er  heo  wile  wel  J>e  wronge. 

Vor  nys  aworlde  ];ing  so  god, 

pat  ne  may  do  sum  vngod 
1365  If  me  hit  wile  turne  a-mys. 

Vor  gold  &  seoluer,  god  hit  is  : 

&  naj?eles  J>ar-myd  }m  myht 

Spus-bruche  bugge,  &  vnryht. 

Wepne  beoj?  gode  gri]?  to  holde : 
1370 &  naj?eles  J;ar-myd  beoj?  men  aq<?ld*? 

Ayeynes  riht  of  alle  londe, 

par  |;eoues  hi  bere];  an  honde. 

Al  so  hit  is  bi  myne  songe, 

pah  heo  beo  god,  me  hine  may  mys-fonge, 
1375  &  drawe  hine  to  sothede, 

&  to  oJ?re  vuele  dede. 

Ah  schaltu,  wrecche,  luue  tele  ? 

Beo  hwich  heo  beo,  vich  luue  is  fele 

Bi-twene  j?e  mon  &  wymmone  : 
1 380  Ah  if  heo  is  at-broyde,  ]?eonne 

He  is  vn-vele  and  for-broyde. 

WroJ?  wurj?e  him  )?e  holy  rode 

pe  rihte  i-cund^  so  for-breyde]? ! 

1361    Myne.  —  1370  aq°ld\  —  1374  fonge  above  line  for 
space. 


1 14     XKty  <®tol  ana  tfje  Nightingale 

W  [u]  nder  hit  is  )?#/  heo  na-wedej?. 
1385  An  swo  heo  do]?,  for  heo  beo)?  wode 

j?e  bute  nest  go)?  to  brode. 

Wummon  is  of  nesche  flesche, 

an  flesches  lustes  is  strong  to  cwesse  : 

nis  wunder  nan  J?ah  he  abide. 
1390  For  flesches  lustes  hi  make]?  slide, 

ne  beo)?  heo  nowt  alle  for-lore 

\at  stumpej?  at  ]?e  flesches  more: 

for  moni  wummon  haue)?  mis-do 

\at  aris  [t]  op  of  J?e  slo. 
1395  Ne  beo}?  nowt  ones  alle  sunne, 

for-J?an  hi  beo)?  tweire  kunne :        Fol.  243  r,  col.  2. 

su  [m]  arist  of  J?e  flesches  luste, 

an  sum  of  J?e  gostes  custe. 

par  flesch  drahej?  men  to  drunnesse, 
1400  an  to  wronc-hede,  &  to  gol-nesse, 

j?e  gost  mis-dej?  )?urch  ni)?e  an  onde, 

&  seo)?J?e  mid  murh)?e  of  mownes  howde, 

an  }eo  [r]  nej?  after  more  &  more, 

an  lutel  rehj?  of  milce  &  ore ; 
1405  an  sti^J?  on  hey  J?ur[h]  modinesse, 

an  ou^r-hohe^  J?anne  lasse. 

Sei  [me  so)?] ,  $ef  )?u  hit  wost, 

1384  winder.  —  1394  aris.  —  1 397  sun.  —  1398  erasure  before 
custe.  —  1400  wronc,  'very  like  wrone. — 1403  jeoneJ>.  —  1405  y 
like  \> ;  )>ux)p.  —  1 40 7  me  s  sob,  letter  before  0  is  s  or  o  ?  on  another 
letter. 


Ww  ®tol  ana  tfje  jfrtgijtingale     1 1 5 

Wunder  [hit  is]  \at  heo  ne  awede]?. 
1385  &  so  heo  dojj,  vor  heo  beoj?  wode  Foi.  239  r,  col.  1. 

pat  bute  neste  goj?  to  brode. 

Wymmon  is  of  neysse  fleysse, 

&  fleysses  lustes  is  strong  to  queysse: 

Nis  wunder  non  J?ah  he  abide. 
1390  Vor  fleysses  lustes  hi  make];  slide, 

Ne  beo|?  heo  nouht  alle  for-lore 

pat  stumpe];  at  J?e  fleysses  more: 

Vor  mony  wymmow  hauej;  mys-do 

pat  aryst  vp  of  J?e  slo. 
1395  Ne  beoj;  noht  ones  alle  sunne, 

Vor-];an  hi  beoj;  tweire  i-kunne: 

Sum  arist  of  fleysses  luste, 

&  sum  of  ]?•  gostes  custe. 

par  fleys  drahj;  nv  men  to  druwkenesse, 
1400  &  to  wlonk-hede,  &  to  golnesse, 

pe  gost  mys-doj?  ];urh  nyj;  and  onde, 

&  sej?];e  myd  [m]  ureh];e  of  mo/mes  howde, 

&  wunne];  after  more  and  more, 

&  lutel  rek)?  of  [m]  ilce  and  ore ; 
1405  &  styh];  on  heyh  Jmr  modynesse, 

&  ouer-howe]?  );ane  lasse. 

Sey  me  so]?,  if  J?u  hit  wost, 

1384  Wunder  his  \>at.  —  1402   Murehbe.  —  1404  Milce.  — 
1406  howeb  added  later  in  ?  orig.  hand. 


1 1 6     tctje  @tol  ant)  ttje  j^igljtmpU 

hwejvr  de)>  wurse,  flesch  J?e  gost  ? 

pu  mi}t  segge,  }ef  ]?u  wult, 
i^iopat  lasse  is  J?e  flesches  gult : 

moni  man  is  of  his  flesche  clene, 

pat  is  mid  mode  deouel  imene. 

Ne  schal  now  mow  wummaw  bi-grede, 

an  flesches  lustes  hire  up-breide  : 
i4i5swuch  he  may  tellen  of  gol-nesse, 

pat  sunege];  wurse  imodi-nesse. 

Bet  }if  ich  schulde  aluue  bringe 

wif  oJ?er  maide,  hwanne  ich  singe. 

Ich  wolde  wi)?  }?e  maide  holde, 
1420  $if  ]?u  hit  const  ariht  at-holde  : 

lust  nu,  ich  segge  pe  hwar-uore, 

vp  to  pe  toppe  from  )>e  more. 

^ef  maide  luue)?  dernliche 

heo  stumpej?  &  fal)>  i-cundeliche : 
1425  for  J?ah  heo  sum  hwile  pleie, 

heo  nis  nout  feor  ut  of  pe  weie ; 

heo  mai  hire  guld  at-wende 

arihte  weie  J?ur[h]  chirche-bende, 

an  mai  eft  habbe  to  make 
1430  hire  leof-mon  wi);-ute  sake,  Fol.  243  v,  col.  1. 

an  go  to  him  bi  daies  lihte, 

pat  er  stal  to  bi  )?eostre  nihte. 

An  2u;zling  not  hwat  swuch  ]>ing  is  : 

1408  wurse.  .  —  141 5  mav,  y  and  first  1  in  tellen  on  erasures.  — 
1420  hlo\de,jirst  1  deleted.  —  1428  hur)>. 


Ww  ®  tol  ana  ttje  jfttgijtmgale     1 1 7 

HweJ?er  do]?  wurse,  fleys  pe  gost  ? 

pu  myht  segge,  if  )?u  wult, 
i4iopat  lasse  is  ]?es  fley  [s]es  gult : 

[Mony  mow]  is  of  his  fleysse  clene, 

pat  is  myd  mode  deouel  imene. 

Ne  schal  no  mow  wymman  bi-grede, 

&  fleysses  lustes  hire  vp-breyde : 
i4i5Such  heo  mahte  beo  of  golnesse, 

pat  sunegej;  wurse  in  modinesse. 

Hwet  if  ic  schulde  a  luue  bringe 

Wif  oJ?er  mayd<?,  hwanne  ic  singe  ? 

Ic  wolde  wij?  J;e  mayde  holde, 
1420  If  J?u  const  aryht  at-holde  : 

Lust  nv,  ic  segge  ]?e  hwar-vore, 

Vp  to  j?e  toppe  from  J?e  more.        Fol.  239  r,  col.  2. 

If  mayde  luuej;  derneliche 

Heo  stumpe];  &  falp  icundeliche: 
1425  Vor  )?aih  heo  sum  hwile  pleye, 

Heo  nys  noht  feor  vt  of  ]?e  weye ; 

Heo  may  hire  guld  at-wende 

A  rihte  weye  ]?urh  chirche-bend^, 

&  may  eft  habbe  to  make 
143°  Hire  leof-mon  wi]?-vte  sake, 

&  gon  to  him  bf  dayes  lyhte, 

pat  er  bi-stal  on  ]?eoster  nyhte. 

pat  yongling  not  hwat  such  ]?ing  is : 

1410  fleyes.  — 141 1  Monymon. 


1 1 8     Ctje  @tol  ana  t\)t  i^igtjtmgaU 

his  }unge  blod  hit  dra^ej?  amis, 
1435  an  sum  sot  mon  hit  tihj?  J?ar-to 

mid  alle  J?an  \at  he  mai  do. 

He  come);  &  fare])  &  beod  &  bid, 

an  heo  bi-stant  &  ouer-sid, 

an  bi-seh}?  ilome  &  longe. 
1440  Hwat  mai  \at  chil  [d]  J?ah  hit  mis-fonge  ? 

Hit  nuste  neau^r  hwat  hit  was, 

for-)?i  hit  J?ohte  fondi  [}>]as, 

an  wite  iwis  hwuch  beo  J?e  gome 

\at  of  so  wilde  make)?   [tome] . 
1445  Ne  mai  ich  for  reo[w]e  lete, 

wanne  ich  iseo  j?e  tohte  ilete 

)>e  luue  bring  on  )?e  ^unglinge, 

\at  ich  of  mur^e  him  ne  singe. 

Ich  reache  heom  bi  mine  songe 
1450  )>#/  swucch  luue  ne  lest  no^t  longe  : 

for  mi  song  lutle  hwile  ilest, 

an  luue  ne  dej?  no$t  bute  rest 

on  swuch  childre,  &  sone  a-ge]?, 

an  fal}>  a-dun  )?e  hote  bre)>. 
1455  Ich  singe  mid  heom  one  pro^e, 

biginne  on  heh,  &  endi  la^e, 

an  lete  [mine]  songes  falle 

an  lutle  wile  a-dun  mid  alle. 

1440  chil.  —  1442  has,  \>  dotted.  —  1443  hwuch,  wen  orjg. 
u.  —  1444  t0  me-  —  J445  r^obe,  no  dot.  —  1449  reache,  before 
rat  altered  to  d  or  3.  —  1450  swucch,  fint  c  altered  from  long  s 
or  ?1.  —  1457  mines. 


W$z  ® tol  ant)  t  Jje  jpigijtiugale     1 1 9 

His  yonge  blod  hit  drahj?  amys, 
1435  &  sum  sot  man  hit  tyh]?  ];ar-to 

Mid  alle  |;an  J?at  he  may  do. 

He  cumej?  &  fare]?  and  beod  abid, 

&  he  bistarte  an  o)?er  sid, 

&  bi-sek]?  i-lome  and  longe. 
1440  Hwat  may  J?at  child  J?ah  hit  mis-fonge  ? 

Hit  nuste  neuer  hwat  hi  [t]  was, 

Vor-jn  hit  J?ouhte  fondi  J?as, 

&  wyte  iwis  hwich  beo  J?e  gome 

pat  of  J?e  wilde  make)?  tome. 
1445  Ne  may  ic  vor  reuj?e  lete, 

Hwanne  ic  iseo  J?e  tohte  ilete 

pe  luue  bring  on  []?]  e  [y]  unglinge, 

pat  ic  of  murehj?e  him  ne  singe. 

Ic  theche  heom  bi  myne  songe 
1450  pat  suych  luue  ne  last  noht  lowge : 

For  my  song  lu[tl]e  wile  ileste, 

&  luue  ne  do)?  noht  bute  reste 

On  such  childre,  &  sone  a-gej;, 

&  falj?  a-dun  ]>e  [hote  brej/]. 
1455 1  singe  myd  heow  one  J?rowe, 

Bi-ginne  an  heyh,  &  endi  lowe, 

&  lete  mine  songes  falle 

A  lu  [tl]  e  wi  [1]  e  a-dun  myd  alle. 

1440  fonge,  ge  cut  off.  —  1 441  his  was.  —  1447  me  wung- 
linge,  m  deleted.  —  145 1  lude. —  1453  heorte  bred,  marg.  b.  — 
1458  A  lude  wise. 


1 20     i&ty  ®fcoi  anu  ttie  j£tgt)tingale 

p#/  maide  wot,  hwanne  ich  swike, 
1460 ]?at  luue  is  mine  songes  iliche, 

for  hit  nis  bute  a  lutel  brej?, 

pat  sone  kumej?,  &  sone  gej?. 

p#/  child  bi  me  hit  under-stond, 

an  his  un-red  to  red  wend  Fol.  243  v,  col.  a. 

1465  an  i-se^J?  wel,  bi  mine  songe, 

\at  dusi  luue  ne  last  no^t  longe. 

Ah  wel  ich  wule  \at  \\i  hit  wite, 

lo)>  me  beo)?  wiues  ut-schute  : 

ah  [w]  if  mai  [of  me]  nime  ^eme, 
1470  ich  ne  singe  nawt  hwan  ich  teme. 

An  wif  ah  lete  so[t]tes  lore, 

J?ah  spusing-bendes  JmncheJ?  sore. 

Wund^re  me  J?ungJ?  wel  stare  &  stor, 

hu  eni  mon  so  eauar  for, 
1475  )?#/  e  his  heorte  mi^te  driue 

[to]  do  hit  to  o)?ers  mannes  wiue: 

for  o)>er  hit  is  of  twam  )?inge, 

ne  mai  \at  J?ridde  no  man  bringe  5 

o  [[;]  ar  J?e  lau^rd  is  wel  aht, 
i48oop>er  aswunde  &  nis  naht. 

^ef  he  is  wurj?ful  &  aht  man, 

nele  no  man  \at  wisdo  [m]  can, 

hure  of  is  wiue  do  him  schame : 

for  he  mai  him  a-drede  grame, 

1459  wot-  •  —  r4^9  V^i  of  of  me.  —  1471  sortes.  —  1476  an 
o  do.  —  1479  oJ>ar,  J>  dotted.  —  1482  wisdon. 


W$t  @tol  anD  t^e  il^tsfttiitgale      1 2 1 

pat  mayde  wot,hwenne  I  s  [w]  ike,  FoL  239  v,  col.  x. 
1460  [pat]  luue  is  myne  songes  i-liche, 

Vor  hit  nys  bute  [a  lutel]  brej?, 

pat  sone  cumej?,  and  sone  ge]?. 

pat  child  bi  me  hit  vnder-stond, 

&  his  vnred  to  rede  iwen  [d] 
i465  &  syh]?  wel,  bi  myne  songe, 

pat  dusy  luue  ne  last  noht  longe. 

Ac  wel  ic  wile  j?at  J?u  hit  wite, 

LoJ;  me  beo)?  wifes  vt-schute  : 

Ac  wif  may  of  me  nyme  yeme, 
1470  Ic  ne  singe  noht  hwen  ic  teme. 

&  wif  auh  lete  sottes  lore, 

pauh  spusyng-bendes  byndej?  sore. 

Wunder  me  J?inkp  stark  &  sor, 

Hw  enymon  so  hauej?  for 
1475  pat  his  heorte  myhte  dryue 

To  do  hit  to  o];res  mawnes  wyue : 

Vor  oJ?er  hit  is  of  twam  }>inge, 

Ne  may  );e  ]?ridde  no  mon  br/nge ; 

Ctyer  ]>e  louml  is  wel  auht, 
1480  Oj?er  a-swunde  &  nys  nouht. 

If  he  is  wrj?ful  &  auht  mon, 

Nele  no  mon  |?at  wisdom  can, 

Hure  of  his  wive  do  him  schome  : 

Vor  he  may  him  a-drede  grame, 

1459   sike.  —  1460  &  luue.  —  146 1  alutel.  —  1464  iwent,  t 
altered  to  A.  —  1478  Ne,  H  altered  to  N. 


122      tEtje  <Dtol  ana  ttje  j£igt)tmgale 

1485  an  \at  he  for-leose  \at  j?er  honge)?, 

}?#/  him  eft  j?ar-to  no^t  ne  longeJ\ 

An  }>ah  he  \at  no$t  ne  a-drede, 

hit  is  un-ri^t  &  gret  sot-hede 

[to]  mis-don  one  gode  manne, 
1490  an  his  ibedde  from  him  spanne. 

Jef  hire  lau^rd  is  for-wurde 

an  un-orne  at  bedde  &  at  borde, 

hu  mi^te  )?ar  beo  eni  luue 

wanne  [a  swuch]  cheorles  buc  hire  lej?  buue  ? 
1495  Hu  mai  }?ar  eni  luue  beo, 

war  swuch  man  grope]?  hire  J?eo  ? 

Her-bi  j?u  mi}t  wel  under-stonde 

\at  on  [is]  areu,  )?#/  oJ?er  schonde,Fol.  244  r,  col. 1. 

to  stele  to  o)?res  mannes  bedde. 
1500  For  }if  aht  man  is  hire  bedde, 

J?u  mi}t  wene  \at  J?e  mistide, 

wanne  J?u  list  bi  hire  side. 

An  $ef  J?e  lauml  is  a  w  [re]  cche, 

hwuch  este  mi^tistu  J?ar  uecche  ? 
1505  Jif  J?u  bi-]?enchest  hwo  hire  ofligge, 

j?u  mi^t  mid  wlate  J?e  este  bugge. 

Ich  not  hu  mai  eni  freo-man 

for  hire  sechen  after  ]?an. 

Jef  he  bi-J?encj?  bi  hwan  he  lai, 

1487  adrede,  first  d  altered  to  a  or  a  to  d.  —  1489  an  o  mis. — 
1494  aswuch.  —  1498  his.  —  1503  wercche.  —  1509  benc^  or 
?  )>ene}>. 


W$t  ®tol  anti  tftc  ^igijtingaU     1 23 

1485  &  J>at  he  forleose  \at  ]>er  hongej?, 

pat  him  eft  j?ar-to  noht  ne  longej?. 

&  ]?ah  he  J?at  nouht  ne  adrede]?, 

Hit  is  vnriht  &  gret  sothede 

To  mys-do  one  gode  manne, 
1490  &  his  ibedde  from  him  spanne. 

If  hire  louml  is  for-wurp>e 

&  vnorne  at  bedde  &  at  borde, 

Hw  myhte  J?ar  beo  eny  luue 

Hwenne  a  cherles  buk  hire  lay  buue  ? 
149s  Hw  may  J>er  eny  luue  beo, 

Hwar  such  mon  grope)?  hire  ]?eo  ?  Foi.  239  V,  col.  1. 

Her-bi  J?u  miht  wel  vnderstonde 

pat  on  is  at  )?en  o];res  schonde 

To  stele  to  o)?res  mannes  bedde, 
1500  Vor  if  auht  man  is  hire  i-bedde, 

pu  myht  wene  )?at  J;e  mys-tide, 

Hwanne  )?u  lyst  bi  hire  side/ 

&  if  J?e  loumi  is  a  wrecche, 

Hwych  este  myhtestu  J?ar  vecche  ? 
1505  If  Jni  bi-J?enchest  hwo  hire  of-ligge, 

pu  myht  myd  wlate  J?e  este  bugge. 

Ich  not  hw  may  eny  freomon 

Vor  hire  sechen  after  ]?an. 

If  he  bi-]?enk]?  bi  hwam  he  lay, 

1494  buue  in  left  mar g.  for  lack  of  space. 


1 24      &\)t  ®tol  anD  ttje  Nightingale 

i5ioal  mai  J?e  luue  gan  a-wai.' 

pe  hule  was  glad  of  swuche  tale : 

heo  ]?o}te  \at  te  nihtegale, 

J>ah  heo  wel  speke  atte  frume, 

hadde  at  )?en  ende  mis-nume; 
15 1 5  an  seide,  '  Nu  ich  habbe  ifunde 

\at  maidenes  beoj?  of  J;ine  imunde ; 

mid  heom  J?u  holdest,  Sc  heom  bi-werest, 

an  outr-swi]?e  \m  hi  herest. 

pe  lauedies  beo)>  to  me  i-wend, 
1520  to  me  heo  hire  mode  send. 

For  hit  itit  ofte  &  ilome, 

pat  wif  &  were  beo)>  uni-some: 

&  ]vr-fore  pe  were  gulte, 

pat  leof  is  over  wuwmon  to  pulte, 
1525  an  spene)?  on  }?are  al  pat  he  hauej?, 

an  siue)?  }>are  pat  no  riht  nauej?, 

an  hauej?  at-tom  his  ri^te  spuse, 

wowes  weste,  &  lere  huse, 

wel  punne  i-schud,  &  iued  wro)?e, 
1530 an  let  heo  bute  mete  &  clo)?e. 

Wan  he  come)?  ham  eft  to  his  wiue, 

ne  dar  heo  no^t  a  word  i-schire  :     Foi.  244  r,  col.  a. 

he  chid  Sz  gred  swuch  he  beo  wod, 

an  ne  bring)?   [horn]  non  o)?er  god. 
x535  Al  pat  heo  de)?  him  is  un-wille, 

1528  odd  contraction  for  and.  —  1534  heom. 


W$t  <®tol  anD  tije  i^is^tingale      1 25 

i5ioAlmay  pe  luue  gon  a-way.' 

pe  vie  wes  glad  of  suche  tale : 

Heo  pouhte  J?at  pe  nyhtegale, 

pah  heo  wel  speke  at  pe  frume, 

Hadde  at  pan  ende  mys-nume ; 
1515&  seyde,  lNv  ich  habbe  i-funde 

pat  maydenes  beop  of  pine  i-mund*?  ; 

Mid  heom  pu  holdest,  &  heom  bi-werest, 

&  ou<?r-swipe  pu  hi  herest. 

pe  lauedies  beop  to  me  i-wend, 
1520T0  me  hire  mone  heo  send. 

For  hit  i-tyd  ofte  and  i-lome, 

pat  wif  &  were  beop  vnisome  : 

&  per-fore  pat  were  gulte, 

pat  leof  is  oper  wymmo«  to  pulte, 
1525  &  spenep  on  pare  al  pat  he  hauep, 

&  sywep  pare  pat  noht  nauep, 

&  hauep  atom  his  riche  spuse, 

Wowes  west,  and  lere  huse, 

Wel  punne  i-srud,  &  i-ved  wrope, 
1530 &  let  heo  bute  mete  &  elope. 

Hwenne  he  cumep  how  eft  to  his  wyue, 

Ne  dar  he  noht  a  word  i-schire  : 

He  chid  &  gred  such  he  beo  wod,  Foi.  240  r,  col.  1. 

&  ne  bring]?  horn  non  oper  god. 
1535  Al  pat  heo  dop  him  is  vnwille, 


126     W$t  ®tol  anu  tbe  j^tgtjtingaie 

al  \at  heo  spekej?  hit  is  him  ille: 

an  oft  hwan  heo  no}t  ne  mis-dej?, 

heo  haue);  )>e  fust  in  hire  te)?. 

p  [er]  is  nan  mon  \at  ne  mai  ibringe 
1540  his  wif  amis  mid  swucche  )?inge  ; 

me  hire  mai  so  ofte  mis-beode, 

\at  heo  do  wule  hire  ahene  neode. 

La,  Godd  hit  wot !  heo  nah  i-weld, 

J?a[h]  heo  hine  makie  kuke-weld. 
1545  For  hit  itit  lome  h  ofte, 

\at  his  wif  is  wel  nesche  &  softe, 

of  faire  bleo  &  wel  i-diht : 

\\  hit  is  J?e  more  unriht 

]>at  he  his  luue  spene  on  J?are 
iSSo]>at  nis  wurj;  one  of  hire  heare. 

An  swucche  men  beoj?  wel  mani-folde, 

\at  wif  ne  kunne  no^t  ari^t  holde. 

Ne  mot  non  mon  wi)?  hire  speke ; 

he  ueneft  heo  wule  anon  to-breke 
1555  hire  spusing,  ^ef  heo  lokej? 

op>er  wi)?  manne  faire  speke)?. 

He  hire  bi-lu)>  mid  keie  &  loke : 

)?ar-J?urh  is  spusing  ofte  to-broke. 

For  $ef  heo  is  J?ar-to  ibroht, 
1560 he  dej?  \at  heo  nadde  ear  i-)?oht. 

[Dahet]  \at  to  swu]?e  hit  bi-speke, 

1539  J?  is.  —  1544^.  —  1545   it   it,   -it  on  erasure.  —  156] 
da  het. 


Ww  ® tol  ana  t\)t  j|iigt)tmgale     1 2  7 

Al  J?at  heo  spekej?  hit  is  him  ille: 

&  ofte  hwenne  heo  noht  ne  mys-de]?, 

Heo  hauej;  ]?e  fust  in  J?e  the]?. 

Nis  nomon  ]?at  ne  may  i-brynge 
1540  His  wif  amys  myd  suche  ]?inge  ; 

Me  hire  may  so  ofte  mys-beode, 

pat  heo  do  wile  hire  owe  neode. 

La,  God  hit  wot !  heo  nah  i-welde, 

pah  heo  hine  make  cukeweld. 
1545  For  hit  i-tyt  ilome  and  ofte, 

pat  his  wif  is  neysse  &  softe, 

Of  fayre  bleo  &  wel  i-diht : 

pi  hit  is  J?e  more  vnryht 

pat  he  his  [luue]  spene  on  J?are 
i$$opat  nis  wurj?  on  of  hire  heare. 

&  suche  men  beo];  wel  manyfolde, 

pat  wif  ne  cunne  ariht  holde. 

Ne  mot  no  mon  wij?  hire  speke ; 

He  wenej;  heo  wile  [anon]  to-breke 
1555  Hire  spusyng,  if  heo  loke]? 

0)?er  wi]>  manne  veyre  speke];. 

He  hire  bilukj?  myd  keye  &  loke : 

par-)?urh  is  spusing  ofte  i-broke. 

Vor  if  heo  is  J?ar-to  i-brouht, 
1560  He  dep>  ];at  heo  nedde  car  tyouht. 

Dehaet  );at  to  swi]>e  hit  bi-speke, 

1549  his  spene.  —  1554  a  non. 


1 28      Wot  @tol  ant)  ttje  j£tgt)tmgale 

J?ah  swucche  wiues  [heom]  a-wreke ! 

Her-of  )?e  lauedies  to  me  menej;, 

an  wel  sore  me  [ahwenep>]: 
1565  wel  neh  min  heorte  wule  to-chine, 

hwon  ich  bi-holde  hire  pine.  Fol.  244  v,  col.  1. 

Mid  heom  ich  wepe  swi[J>]e  sore, 

an  for  heom  bidde  Cristis  ore, 

\at  J?e  lauedi  sone  a-redde 
1570 an  hire  sende  betere  ibedde. 

An  oj?er  J?ing  ich  mai  J?e  telle, 

\at  J?u  ne  schald,  for  )?ine  felle, 

ondswere  none  J?arto  finde ; 

al  J?i  sputing  schal  aswinde. 
1575  Moni  chapmon  &  moni  cniht 

luue)?  &  [nald]  his  w^  ariht, 

an  swa  de}>  moni  bonde-man  : 

\at  gode  wif  dej?  after  J?an, 

an  seruej?  him  to  bedde  &  to  borde 
1580  mid  faire  dede  &  faire  worde, 

an  ^eorne  fondej;  hu  heo  muhe 

do  )nng  }>at  him  beo  i-di^e. 

pe  lauerd  in-to  J;are  [J?]eode 

fare)?  ut  on  J;are  beire  nede, 
1585  an  is  \at  gode  wif  unbltye 

for  hire  laumles  houd-si)?e, 

an  sit  &  sihft  wel  sore  of-longed, 

1562  hire.  —  1564  ah  weneb.  —  1567  swise. — 1569   bat  lea 
be,  lea  deleted.  —  1576  hlad.  —  1583  beode,  \>  dotted. 


Wqt  <Dtol  attn  tfje  jptgljtmgale     1 29 

pah  suche  wiues  heom  a-wreke  ! 

Her-of  to  me  pe  leuedies  heow  menep, 

And  wel  sore  me  a-hwenep: 
1565  Wei  neyh  myn  heorte  wile  to-chine, 

Hwenne  ic  bi-holde  heore  [pine]. 

Mid  heom  ic  wepe  swipe  sore, 

&  for  heom  bidde  Cristes  ore, 

pat  pe  leuedi  sone  a-redde 
1570  &  hire  sende  betere  i-bedde.  Fol.  240  r,  col.  2. 

An  oper  ping  ic  may  pe  telle, 

&  J?u  ne  schalt,  for  pine  felle, 

Onswere  non  par-to  fynde; 

Al  pis  sputing  schal  aswinde. 
1575  Mony  chapmow  &  mony  knyht 

Luuep  &  halt  his  wif  ariht, 

&  so  dop  mony  bonde-man  : 

pat  gode  wif  do);  after  pan, 

&  saruep  him  to  bedde  &  to  borde 
1580 Mid  fayre  dede  &  fayre  worde, 

&  yorne  vondep  hw  heo  mowe 

Do  ping  pat  him  beo  i-duwe. 

pe  louml  in-to  pare  peode 

Varep  vt  on  pare  beyre  neode, 
1585  &  is  pat  gode  wif  vnblipe 

Vor  hire  loumles  houp-sype, 

&  sit  &  sykp  wel  sore  of-longed, 

1566  wiue.  — 1573  Onswere,  non,  n'j  very  like  u. 


1 30     W$z  ®tol  ana  tlje  j£tgt)tmgale 

an  hire  sore  an  horte  ongred; 

al  for  hire  louerdes  sake 
i59ohaueJ?  daies  kare  &  ni^tes  wake: 

an  swuj?e  longe  hire  is  J?e  hwile, 

an  ek  steape  hire  JmnJ?  a  mile. 

Hwanne  o)?re  slepe)>  hire  abute, 

ich  one  lust  J?ar  wr$-)?ute, 
1595  an  wot  of  hire  sore  mode, 

an  singe  a-ni^t  for  hire  gode : 

an  mine  gode  song,  for  hire  J^inge, 

ich  turne  su[m]-del  to  murni[n]ge. 

Of  hure  seorhe  ich  bere  sume, 
i6oofor-J?an  ich  am  hire  wel  welcume:  Fol.  244  V,  col.  2. 

ich  hire  helpe  hwat  [I  mai], 

for  [ho  }e)?]  J?ane  rehte  wai. 

Ah  ]>u  me  hauest  sore  i-gramed, 

\at  min  heorte  is  wel  neh  alamed, 
1605  )?#/  ich  mai  un-nea)?e  speke : 

ah  }et  ich  wule  for);ure  reke. 

pu  seist  1pat  ich  am  manne  ylaft, 

an  euer-euch  man  is  wr$  me  wro$, 

an  me  mid  stone  &  lugge  )?rete]?, 
i6ioan  me  to-bustej;  &  to-bete]?, 

an  hwanne  heo  habej?  me  of-slahe, 

1598  sun  del  ;  murnige.  —  1601  imai.  —  1602  hojef>.  —  1607 
yla5,  y  like  wen,  r  on  1  or  1  on  r,  pencil  cross  at  endt  dot  of  first  let- 
ter pencilled  out. 


Wqt  <®iol  ant)  tlje  jfttgtjtingaie      1 3 l 

&  hire  sore  an  heorte  ongre]? ; 

Al  vor  hire  loumles  sake 
1590 HaueJ?  dayes  kare  &  nihtes  wake: 

&  swi)?e  longe  hire  is  J?e  hwile, 

&  vych  stape  hire  J?inkJ?  a  [m]  ile. 

Hwenne  oj?re  slepej?  hire  a-bute, 

Ich  one  lust  J?ar  wy)?-J?ute, 
1595  &  wot  of  hire  sore  mode, 

&  singe  a-nyht  for  hire  gode  : 

&  myn  gode  song,  for  hire  J^inge, 

Ic  turne  suw-del  to  [m]urnynge. 

Of  hure  seorwe  ic  bere  sume, 
x6ooVor-j?an  ic  am  hire  wel  welcum* : 

Ic  hire  helpe  hwat  ich  may, 

For  [ho  gej>]  ]?ane  rihte  way. 

&  J?u  me  hauest  sore  i-gremed, 

pat  myn  heorte  is  neyh  a-lemed, 
1605  pat  ic  may  vnnej?e  speke : 

Ac  yet  ic  wile  [for]?urre]  reke. 

pu  seyst  J?at  ic  am  monne  loj?,      Fol.  240  v,  col.  1. 

&  vich  mon  is  wij?  me  wro]?, 

&  me  myd  stone  &  lugge  J?reteJ?, 
1610&  me  to-burste  [j?]  &  to-bete[]?], 

&  hwanne  hi  habbe]?  me  ofslawe, 

1592  Mile.  —  1598   Murnynge.  —  1602  howeb.  —  1606  for 
burre.  —  1607  ic  above  line.  —  1 6 10  to  burste  ;  to  bete. 


1 32     W$t  @tol  ana  tty  j^igftttngale 

heo  hongej?  me  on  heore  hahe, 

J?ar  ich  a-schewele  pie  an  crowe 

fro[m]  J>an  )>e  }?ar  is  isowe. 
i6i5pah  hit  beo  so)?,  ich  do  heom  god, 

an  for  heom  ich  [s]  chadde  mi  blod : 

ich  do  heom  god  mid  mine  dea)?e, 

war-uore  )?e  is  wel  inmea)?e. 

For  J>ah  Jm  ligge  dead  &  clinge, 
1620  }n  dep  nis  nawt  to  none  )?inge  : 

ich  not  neauer  to  hwan  Jm  mi$t, 

for  j?u  nart  bute  a  wrecche  wi^t. 

Ah  J?ah  mi  lif  me  beo  at-schote, 

j?e  $et  ich  mai  do  gode  note  : 
1615  me  mai  [up  one]  smale  sticke 

me  sette  a  wude  ine  J?e  )?icke, 

an  swa  mai  mon  tolli  him  to 

lutle  briddes  &  iuo, 

an  swa  me  mai  mid  me  bi-^ete 
1630  wel  gode  brede  to  his  mete. 

Ah  j?u  neure  mon  to  gode 

Hues  ne  dea)?es  stal  ne  stode  : 

ich  not  to  hwarc  )>u  breist  Jn  brod, 

liues  ne  deaj>es  ne  de)>  hit  god.'     Foi.  245  r,  col.  1. 
1635      pe  nihtegale  i-h[e]rde  J?is, 

an  hupte  uppon  on  blowe  ris, 

an  herre  sat  J;an  heo  dude  ear : 

1614  fron.  —  1616  chadde.  —  1625  upone.  —  1635  i  hrdc.  — 
1636  ri,  s  above. 


tWje  ®tol  ana  ttje  jlitgtjtinple     133 

Heo  anho]>  me  in  heore  hawe, 

par  ich  aschevle  pie  &  crowe 

Frow  ]?an  j?at  J?er  is  isowe. 
i6i5pah  hit  beo  so)?,  ic  do  heom  god, 

&  for  heow  ic  schedde  my  blod : 

Ic  do  heo7w  god  myd  myne  dej?e, 

J?ar-fore  ]?e  is  wel  unmej?e. 

For  [J?ah]  bu  ligge  ded  &  clinge, 
1620  pi  de]>  nys  nouht  to  none  J?inge : 

Ic  not  neu^r  to  hwa«  )?u  myht, 

For  J?u  nart  bute  a  wrech*  wiht. 

Ah  }?ah  my  lif  me  beo  atschote, 

pe  yet  ic  may  do  gode  note  : 
1625  Me  may  vppe  smale  sticke 

Me  sette  a  wude  ine  J?e  J?ikke, 

&  so  may  mon  tolli  him  to 

Lutle  briddes  and  i-vo, 

&  so  me  may  myd  me  byete 
1630  Wel  gode  brede  to  his  mete. 

Ah  Jm  neu^r  mon  to  gode 

Lyues  ne  de]?es  stal  ne  stode : 

Ic  not  to  hwan  j?u  breist  ]>i  word, 

Lyues  ne  de)?es  ne  do]?  hit  god.' 
1635      pe  [n]ihtegale  iherde  J?is, 

&  hupte  vppe  on  blowe  ris, 

&  herre  sat  }?ane  heo  dude  er : 

1 61 9  J>hah.  —  1635  Nihtegale. 


1 34     tEf)e  ®tol  ant>  ttje  jpigljtmpU 

1  Hule,'  he  seide,  *  beo  nu  wear, 

nulle  ich  wij?  J?e  plaidi  namore, 
1640 for  her  J?e  mist  Jn  rihte  lore: 

|?u  ^eilpest  \at  J?u  art  marine  lo]>, 

an  euer-euch  wiht  is  wr8  J?e  w[ro]j?; 

an  mid  ^ulinge  &  mid  i-grede 

}m  wanst  wel  \at  \u  art  unlede. 
1645  pu  seist  \at  gromes  \t  i-ftyS, 

an  heie  on  rodde  )?e  an-ho$, 

an  j?e  to-twichet  &  to-schakeS, 

an  summe  of  J?e  schawles  make$. 

Me  J?unch  \at  \\i  for-leost  \at  game, 
1650  J?u  ^ulpest  of  j?ire  o^e  schame: 

me  )?unch  ]>at  J?u  me  gest  an  honde, 

j?u  ^ulpest  of  J?ire  o^ene  schowme.> 

po  heo  hadde  f>eos  word  i-cwede, 

heo  sat  in  one  faire  stude, 
1655  an  j?ar-after  hire  steuene  dihte, 

an  song  so  schille  &  so  brihte, 

\at  feor  &  ner  me  hit  i-herde. 

par-uore  an-an  to  hire  cherde 

J?rusche,  &  }?rostle,  &  wude-wale, 
1660  an  fuheles  bo];e  grete  &  smale : 

for-)?an  heom  )?iihte  \at  heo  hadde 

J>e  houle  ouer-come,  uor-J?an  heo  grtfdde 

1642  worb.  —  1646  an  be  heie,  be    deleted.  —  1649  ^u  muc^ 
//'&  bir,  no  dot.  — 1656  cchile,  s  on  first  c.  —  1659  brusche.. 


W$z  <&M  anti  t\)t  jftigfjtingale     1 35 

4  Vie/  he  seyde,  *  beo  nv  [w]  er, 
Nule  ic  wij?  j?e  playdi  namore,       Fol.  240  v,  col.  2. 
1640 Vor  her  ]?u  myst  ]?i  ryhte  lore: 

V  [u]  ye^Pest  }>at  I711  art  moTzne  loJ>, 

&  eu^rvich  wiht  is  wij?  J?e  wro)?; 

&  myd  yollinge  &  myd  i-grede 

pu  jnnchst  wel  \at  J?u  art  vnlede. 
1645  pu  seyst  J>at  gromes  j?e  i-voj?, 

&  heye  on  rode  )?e  an-ho}?, 

&  )?e  to-twicche]?  &  to-schakej;, 

&  su/wme  of  J>e  scheules  make);. 

Me  pink]?  J?#*  Jm  for-lest  \at  game, 
1650  pu  yelpest  of  J>ire  owe  schome: 

Me  J?inkJ?  J?at  ]m  me  gest  an  honde, 

pu  yelpest  of  Jrine  owe  schonde.' 

po  heo  hadde  J?eos  word  [icwede], 

Heo  sat  in  one  fayre  stude, 
1655  &  J;ar-after  hire  stefne  dihte, 

&  song  so  schille  &  so  brihte, 

pat  fur  &  neor  me  hit  i-herde. 

par-vore  [anon]  to  hire  cherde 

pruysse,  &  ]?rostle,  &  wodewale, 
1660  &  foweles  bo)?e  grete  &  smale  : 

Vor-J?an  \at  heom  Jmhte  \at  heo  hadde 

pe  vie  ou^r-come,  for-)?an  heo  grtfdde. 

1638  \>er,   \>  or  wen. — 1640  \>u  inserted.  —  1 64 1  J?  yelpest.  — 
1653  blank  space  after  word.  —  1658  a  non. 


136      c&e  ®tol  anu  tfce  Nightingale 

an  sungerc  al-swa  uale  wise, 

an  blisse  was  among  }?e  rise. 
1665  Ri^t  swa  me  gred  )?e  manne  a  schame, 

]>at  tauelej?  &  for-leost  ]>at  gome, 
peos  hule,  j?o  heo  )?is  iherde, 

4  Hauestu,'  heo  seide,  '  ibanned  ferde  ?    Fol.  245  r, 

an  wultu,  wreche,  wi3  me  fi^te  ?  coi-  2- 

1670  Nai,  nai !   nauestu  none  mi^te  ! 

Hwat  gredej?  }>eo  \at  hider  come  ? 

Me  JmncJ?  )?u  ledest  ferde  [to  me]. 

Je  schule  wite,  ar  $e  fleo  heonne, 

hwuch  is  )?e  stren)>e  of  mine  kunne : 
1675  for  }>eo  J?e  hauej?  bile  ihoked, 

an  cliures  [sjcharpe  &  wel  icroked, 

alle  heo  beoj?  of  mine  kun-rede, 

an  walde  come  }if  ich  bede. 

pe  seolfe  coc,  \at  wel  can  fi^te, 
1680  he  mot  mid  me  holde  mid  ri^te, 

for  [bo)?e]  we  habbej?  steuene  bri^te, 

an  sitte)>  under  weolcne  bi  ni^te. 

Schille  ich  an  utest  uppen  ow  grede, 

ich  shal  swo  stronge  ferde  lede, 
1685 p^7/  ower  proude  schal  aualle; 

a  tort  ne  }iue  ich  for  ow  alle  : 

1663  uale,  later  u  on  erasure.  — 1665  swa,  wen  on  u.  — 1670 
Jirtt  na,  i  above ;  no,  ne  above.  —  1672  buncb,  second  )>  on  ?  u  ; 
tome.  —  1676  charpe.  —  1 681  bo  be.  — 1682  three  up  and  down 
strokes  for  en  j  Wr.,  St.,  uc,  Str.  en. 


W$t  <$tol  anD  tfte  jpigfotingaU      137 

&  sungen  al-so  uale  wise, 

pat  blisse  wes  among  J>e  ryse. 
1665  Riht  so  me  gred  j?e  mowne  a  schame, 

pat  tauelej;  &  for-leost  J>#/  gome, 
peos  vie,  )?o  heo  J>is  iherde, 

c  Hauestu,'  heo  seyde,  c  ibanned  ferd*  ? 

&  wiltu,  wrecche,  wij?  me  vyhte  ? 
1670  Na,  nay  !  nauestu  none  [mjihte  ! 

Hwat  grede]>  heo  \at  hider  come  ?    Fol.  241  r,  col.  1. 

Me  J>ink|?  J?u  ledest  ferde  to  me. 

Ye  schulle  wite,  ar  ye  fleo  heonne, 

Hwuch  is  J>e  strengj?e  of  myne  kunne : 
1675  Vor  J>eo  \at  hauej;  bile  ihoked, 

&  clyures  scharpe  &  wel  i-croked, 

Alle  heo  beoj?  of  myne  kunrede, 

&  wolde  cumen  if  ich  bede. 

pe  seolue  cok,  J?at  wel  can  vihte, 
1680  He  mot  myd  me  holde  wi|?  rihte, 

Vor  [boj?e]  we  habbe  stefne  brihte, 

&  sittej?  vnder  welkne  bi  nyhte. 

Schulle  ic  up  eu  on  vt[est]  grede, 

Ich  schal  swo  stronge  verde  lede, 
1685  pat  oure  prude  schal  a-ualle; 

A  tord  ne  yeue  ic  for  eu  alle: 

1670  Mihte.  —  1 68 1  beo  \>at  or  \>er. —  1682 -lkne  bi  nyhte 
in  perhaps  later  hand.  —  1683  vterest,  crook  for  er  in  perhaps  later 
hand.  —  1685  J?a,  t  inserted. 


1 38      X&ty  ®tol  ana  tfyt  j^igtitmgale 

ne  schal,  ar  hit  beo  fulliche  eue, 

a  wreche  fe];er  on  ow  bi-leaue. 

Ah  hit  was  unker  uore-ward, 
1690)70  we  come  hider-ward, 

\at  we  J;arto  holde  scholde 

J;ar  riht  dom  us  }iue  wolde. 

Wultu  nu  breke  fore-ward  ? 

Ich  wene  dom  J?e  J?ing  to  hard: 
1695  for  Jm  ne  darst  domes  abide, 

J?u  wult  nu,  wreche,  fi^te  &  chide. 

Jot  ich  ow  alle  wolde  rede, 

ar  [ich]  ut-heste  uppon  ow  grede, 

\at  ower  fihtlac  lete]?  beo, 
1 700  an  ginnej?  ra]?e  a-wei  fleo. 

For,  bi  )?e  cliures  \at  ich  bere  ! 

$ef  $e  abide);  mine  here,  Fol.  245  v,  col.  1. 

$e  schule  on  o)?er  wise  singe, 

an  a-cursi  alle  fi^tinge : 
1705  vor  nis  of  ow  non  so  kene, 

pat  durre  abide  mine  on-sene.' 

peos  hule  spac  wel  baldeliche, 

for  J;ah  heo  nadde  swo  hwatliche 

i-fare  after  hire  here, 
i7ioheo  walde  neo)?eles  ^efe  answere 

J?e  ni^tegale  mid  swucche  worde. 

For  moni  man  mid  speres  orde 

1698  ihc  very  like  iht.  —  1 71 1  new  paragraph  in  MS. 


Ww  ®tol  ana  rtje  Jlitgtjtmgale      1 39 

Ne  schal,  ar  hit  beo  fullich  eue, 

A  wrecche  vej?ere  on  eu  bileue. 

Ah  hit  wes  vnker  uoreward, 
1690  po  we  comen  hyder-ward, 

pat  we  )?ar-to  holden  scholde 

par  riht  dom  vs  yeue  wolde. 

Wultu  nv  breke  foreward  ? 

Ic  wene  dom  pe  J?inkJ?  to  hard: 
1695  Vor  J?u  ne  darst  domes  abyde, 

pu  wilt  nv,  wreche,  fihte  &  chide. 

Yet  ich  eu  wolde  alle  rede, 

Ar  ich  vthest  vp  eu  grede, 

pat  eur  fihtlak  lete]?  beo, 
1700  &  gynnej?  rape  ayeyn  fleo. 

Vor,  bi  pe  clyures  pat  ic  berel 

If  ye  abidej?  myne  here, 

Ye  schullej?  an  oper  wise  singe 

&  cursy  alle  fihtinge: 
1705  Vor  nys  of  ou  non  so  kene, 

pat  durre  abide  myn  onsene.' 

peos  vie  spak  wel  baldelyche, 

Vor  J>ah  heo  nadde  so  hwatliche 

Iuare  after  hire  here, 
i7ioHeo  wolde  napeles  yeue  answere  Foi.  241  r,  col.  %. 

pe  [n]ihtegale  myd  sweche  worde. 

For  monymon  myd  speres  orde 

17 1 1  Nihtegale  ;   new  paragraph  in  MS. 


140     Qfyz  ®fcoi  ant)  tfce  jftig^tingale 

hauej?  lutle  strencj^e,  &  mid  his  [sjchelde, 

ah  neo)?eles  in  one  felde, 
171  $\urh  belde  worde  an  mid  ilete, 

dej?  his  iuo  for  arehj?e  swete. 

pe  wranne,  for  heo  cuj?e  singe, 

)>ar  com  in  |?are  [moregeiinge] 

to  helpe  )?are  ni^tegale  : 
1720  for  J?ah  heo  hadde  steuene  smale, 

heo  hadde  gode  )>[ro]te  &  schille, 

an  fale  manne  song  a  wille. 

pe  wranne  was  wel  wis  iholde, 

vor  J?eg  heo  nere  ibred  a  wolde, 
1725  ho  was  ito^en  among  [mannewne], 

an  hire  wisdom  brohte  J?enne  : 

heo  mi^te  speke  hwar  heo  walde, 

to-uore  J?e  king  )>ah  heo  scholde. 

1  Luste)?,'  heo  cwa)>,  l  Iate)>  me  speke. 
173°  Hwat !   wulle  }e  )>is  pes  to-breke, 

an  do  J?anne  [kinge]  swuch  schame  ? 

^e[t]  nis  he  nou)>er  ded  ne  lame, 

Hunke  schal  i-tide  harm  &  schowde, 

$ef  $e  do))  grij?-bruche  on  his  londe. 
1735 Late);  beo,  &  beoj?  isome, 

an  fare)?  riht  to  o  [w]  er  dome,       Foi.  245  v,  col.  2. 

171 3  chelde.  —  1 71 8  more  gennge  or  geiinge,  no  dots,  first  tivo 
up  and  doivn  strokes  unlike  second  tivo.  —  I  721  borte.  —  1724  at 
bottom  of  fol.  245  t,  col.  I,  after  I.  f/JJ.  —  1 725  mann  enne. 
—  1 73 1  banne  swuch.  —  1732  je.  —  1736  ober,  no  dot. 


W$t  ® tol  anD  tlje  jliigfltingaie      1 4 « 

Hauej?  lutle  streng)?e,  &  mid  his  schelde, 

Ah  na)?eles  in  one  felde, 
i7i5purh  belde  worde  &  myd  ilete, 

De|?  is  iuo  for  arehj?e  swete. 

pe  wrenne,  for  heo  cuj>e  singe, 

par  com  in  J>are  moreweninge 

To  helpe  J?are  nyhtegale: 
1720  Vor  [J^eih]  heo  hadde  stefne  smale, 

Heo  hadde  gode  prote  &  schille, 

&  fale  mowne  song  a  wille. 

pe  wrenne  wes  wel  wis  iholde, 

Vor  J?eih  heo  nere  i-bred  a  wolde, 
1725  Heo  wes  itowen  am<?wg  mankunne, 

&  hire  wisdo/w  brouhte  J?enne: 

Heo  myhte  speke  hwar  heo  wolde, 

To-fore  ]>e  kinge  J?ah  heo  scholde. 

c  LusteJ;,'  heo  que}?,  l  letej?  me  speke. 
1730  Hwat !   wille  ye  J?is  pays  to-breke, 

&  do  J?anne  [kinge]  such  schome  ? 

Yet  nys  heo  nou)?er  ded  ne  lome, 

Hunke  schal  i-tyde  harm  &  schonde, 

If  we  do]?  gryj?bruche  on  his  lond^. 
1735  Letej?  beo,  &  beoj?  i-some, 

&  fare)?  riht  to  eure  dome, 

1 718  in,  contraction  very  like  8c. —  1 720  Vor  heo.  —  1 725  amg, 
o  and  daih  above  mg.  —  1731  J»anne  such. 


142     W$z  ®tol  an*  ttje  jptg^tmgaU 

an  late)?  dom  )?is  plaid  to-breke, 

al  swo  hit  was  erur  bi-speke.' 
c  Ich  an  wel/  cwa"5  )?e  ni^tegale, 
1740 l  ah,  wranne,  nawt  for  )?ire  tale, 

ah  do  for  mire  lah-fulnesse. 

Ich  nolde  )?at  unriht-fulnesse 

me  at  J?en  ende  ouer-kome  : 

ich  nam  of-drad  of  none  dome. 
1745  Bi-hote  ich  habbe,  so)?  hit  is, 

J?at  Maister  Nichole,  \at  is  wis, 

bi-tuxen  vs  deme  schulde, 

an  }e  [t]  ich  wene  \at  he  wule. 

Ah  [w]ar  mihte  we  hine  finde  ?  ' 
1750  pe  wranne  sat  in  ore  linde ; 

«  Hwat !  nu^te  }e,'  cwaf  heo,  c  his  horn  ? 

He  wune}?  at  Portes-hom, 

at  one  tune  ine  Dor-sete, 

bi  |?ar^  see  in  ore  ut-lete: 
1755  J?ar  be  deme)?  manie  ri^te  dom, 

an  diht  &  writ  mani  wisdom, 

an  \urh  his  mufe  &  \urh  his  honde 

hit  is  )?e  betere  in-to  Scot-londe. 

To  seche  hine  is  lihtlich  J?ing, 
i76ohe  nauej?  bute  one  woning. 

pat  [is]  bischopen  muchel  schame, 

an  alle  [J?]an  \at  of  his  nome 

1748  jef.  —  1749  bar,  "°  dot.  —  1761   his.  —  1762    ban,    b 
dotted. 


W$t  ®tol  anD  tlje  ipigljtmgale     143 

&  letej?  dow  J?is  playd  to-breke, 

Al  so  hit  wes  erure  bi-speke.' 

4  Ich  vnne  wel,'  que)?  )?e  [n]  ihtegale, 
1740'  Ah,  wrenne,  nouht  for  j?ine  tale, 

Ac  do  for  myre  lauhfulnesse. 

Ic  nolde  J?at  vnrihtfulnesse 

Me  at  ]?en  [ende  ouer-come]: 

Ic  nam  of-dred  of  none  dome. 
i745Bi-hote  ic  habbe,  soj?  hit  is, 

pat  Mayster  Nichole,  \at  is  wis, 

Bi-twihen  [us]  deme  schulle, 

&  yet  ic  wene  pat  he  wulle. 

Ah  [w]ar  myhte  we  hine  fynde  V  Fol.  441  v, 

i75ope  wrenne  sat  in  hore  lynde ;     .  ^  *• 

4  Hwat !  [nuhte  ye] ,'  qua]?  heo,  c  his  horn  ? 

Heo  wunef  at  Portes-hom, 

At  one  tune  in  Dorsete, 

Bi  J?are  see  in  ore  vt-lete: 
1755  par  he  deme}?  mony  riht  dom, 

&  diht  &  wryt  mony  wisdom, 

&  |?urh  his  mu]?e  &  |?urh  his  honde 

Hit  is  |?e  betere  in-to  Scotlonde. 

To  seche  hyne  is  lyhtlych  j?ing, 
1760  He  naue]?  buten  o  wunyng. 

pat  is  biscopen  muchel  schame, 

&  alle  |?an  \at  of  his  nome 

1739  Nihtegale.  —  1743  en(*e  meouer  come.  —  1 747  eudeme. 
—  1749  >ar,  \>  or  wen.  —  1 75 1  Hwat  Mihte  lyet. 


144     tEtje  ®tol  ana  tfce  j£ig$tmgaU 

habbe)?  i-hert,  &  of  his  dede. 

Hwi  nullej?  hi  nimen  heom  to  rede, 
1765)7^7/  he  were  mid  heom  ilome 

for  teche  heom  of  his  wisdome, 

an  }iue  him  rente  auale  stude, 

"pat  he  mi^te  heom  ilome  be  mide  ? ' 
1  Certes,'  cwaj>  )>e  hule,  '  \at  is  soft: 
i77°J?eos  riche  men  wel  muche  mis-doo",      Fol.  046  r, 

\at  letej?  J?ane  gode  mon,  co1,  '• 

\at  of  so  feole  J'inge  con, 

an  }iue)>  rente  wel  misliche, 

an  of  him  letej?  wel  liht-liche. 
1775  WHS  heore  cunne  heo  beoJ>  mildre, 

an  ^eue)?  rente  litle  childre: 

swo  heore  wit  hi  demj;  adwole. 

pat  euer  abid  Maistre  Nichole. 

Ah  ute  we  j?ah  to  him  fare, 
1780  for  )?ar  is  unker  dom  al  }are.' 
1  Do  we,'  J?e  ni^tegale  seide: 

c  ah  [w]  a  schal  unker  speche  rede, 

an  telle  to-uore  unker  deme  ? ' 

4  par-of  ich  schal  j?e  wel  i-cweme,' 
1785  cwaf  J?e  houle;  '  for  al,  ende  of  orde, 

telle  ich  con  word  after  worde: 

an  }ef  )?e  j?incj?  )>at  ich  mis-rempe, 

Jm  stond  a^eirc  &  [do  me]  crempe.' 

1763  i  hert.  .  —  1766  thcche,  frtt  h  deleted.  —  1782  Ja,  no 
dot.  —  1788  dome. 


Wqt  ®tol  ana  ttje  jliigfjtingale     145 

Habbe]?  iherd,  and  of  his  dede. 

Hwi  nullej?  hi  nyme»  heow  to  rede, 
1765  p#/  he  were  myd  heom  ilome 

Vor  teche  heom  of  his  wis-dome, 

&  yeue  him  rente  on  vale  stude, 

pat  he  myhte  ilome  heo^z  beo  myde  ? ' 
4  Certes,'  qua)?  ]>e  vie,  '  j?at  is  soj? : 
1770  peos  riche  men  [mjuchel  mys-doj?, 

pat  lete)?  j?ane  gode  man, 

pat  of  so  fele  J?inge  can, 

&  yeuej?  rente  wel  [mjislyche, 

&  of  him  lete}?  wel  lyhtliche. 
177s  Wi)?  heore  kunne  heo  beoj?  [m]ildre, 

&  yeue)?  rente  lutle  childre: 

So  heore  wit  hi  demej?  a-dwole. 

pat  euer  abit  Mayster  Nichole. 

Ah  vte  we  )?ah  to  hym  fare, 
1 780  Vor  |?a[r]  is  vnk^r  dom  al  yare.' 
'Do  we,'  )?e  [n]ihtegale  seyde: 

4  Ah  hwo  scnal  vnker  speche  rede, 

&  telle  to-vore  vnker  d  [e]  me  ?  ' 
*  par-of  ic  schal  J?e  wel  iqueme,' 
1785  Que)?  J?e  vie  ;  4  for  al,  ende  of  orde, 

Telle  ic  con  word  after  worde  :      Fol.  141  v,  col.  %, 

&  if  J?e  ];ink)?  )?at  ic  mis-rempe, 

pu  stond  ayeyn  and  do  me  crempe.' 

1770    Muchel.  —  1773    Mislyche.  —  1 775    Mildre.  —  1 780 
J>at.  —  1 78 1  Nihtegale.  —  1783  dome. 


146     XLty  ®tol  ant)  rtje  j$tgt)tmgale 

Mid  Jnsse  worde  for]?  hi  ferden, 
i79oal  bute  here  &  bute  uerde, 

to  Portes-ham  \er  heo  bi-come. 
Ah  hu  heo  spedde  of  heore  dome, 
ne  chan  ich  eu  namore  telle  : 
her  nis  namore  of  pis  spelle. 


W$t  0M  anti  rtje  jfttgljtmgale     147 

Mid  J>isse  worde  for)?  hi  ferden, 
1790  Al  bute  here  and  bute  verde, 
To  Portes-ham  ]?er  heo  bicome. 
Ah  hw  heo  spedde  of  heore  dome, 
Ne  can  ic  eu  namore  telle : 
Her  nys  namore  of  jnsse  spelle. 
Explicit. 


®ott$ 


When  the  meaning  of  both  MSS.  is  the  same,  to  avoid  repe- 
tition the  form  of  MS.  Cott.  is  quoted  in  these  notes.  Sk.  orSkeat 
refers  to  Skeat's  edition  of  Morris'  Specimens  of  Early  English, 
Part  I.;  Str.,  to  Stratmann's  edition  of  the  poem;  Wr.,  to 
Wright's  edition;  Stev.  or  St.,  to  Stevenson's  edition ;  Matz.  or 
Matzner,  to  Matzner' s  Altenglische  Sprachproben ;  Brad.  Strat. 
Diet.,  to  Bradley's  edition  of  Stratmann's  Middle  English  Dic- 
tionary ,•  Cook's  Sievers,  or  Sievers,  to  Cook's  2nd  edition  of 
Sievers'  Grammar  of  Old  English  ,•  N.  E.  Diet.,  to  the  New 
English  Dictionary. 

1.  At  221-4,  255~8>  349~52>  455~8>  1679-82,  also,  the 
quatrain  on  one  rhyme  occurs  for  the  couplet,  with  good  effect.  — 
Feminine  are  preferred  to  masculine  rhymes  in  a  proportion  of  about 
715  to  182,  or  4  to  I.  — Dale  is  rather  Scandinavian  than  O.  E., 
the  O.  E.  word  being  denu.  A  feminine  form  occurs  in  Dan. 
dal,  m.  f. ,  Corn,  dot,  Manx  day  11.  Probably  the  f.  -ere  of 
sumere,  'certain,' is  without  regard  to  gender:  cp.  17  ore.  Sk. 
and  Brad.  Strat.  Diet,  take  one  sumere,  •  a  certain '  <  O.  E.  sum. 

2.  C  su)>e.  p  dotted  and  so  like  iven,  as  in  this  MS.  at  171, 
638,  758,  967,  1305,  1442,  1479,  1583,  1762. 

5.  The  normal  line  of  the  poem  contains  four  verse  stresses, 
each  coinciding  with  word-accent  and  usually  with  rhetorical  ac- 
cent. The  normal  types  are  found  in  verses  of  8  and  9  syllables  : 
C  5  J>at  plait  was  stif  &  stare  &  strowg, 
C  10  J?at  alre-worste  bat  hi  wuste. 
When  the  initial  light  syllable  is  omitted,  the  normal  types  are 
verses  of  7  and  8  syllables  : 

C  1056   Liim  and  grinew,  wel  eiwat, 
C     943   Sel[d]e  endeS  wel  \>e  lobe. 
In  between    195   and  200  verses  (e.  g.  26,  42,  63,  64,  70,  71, 
83»  87,  91)  the  initial  light  syllable  is  not  employed.    This  number 


150  j£OtC0 

does  not  include  lines  opening  with  a  trochee  followed  immediately 
by  an  iambus  :  e.  g. 

423    Grucching  &  luring  him  bo\>  rade. 
Verses  of  this  kind  are  very  common  (e.  g.  38,  C  47,  52,  78,  80, 
105,  120,    128,  130,    132,   134,  161,  C  163,    165,  168,   181, 
184,  193)  though  in  some  cases  personal  preference  in  placing  the 
first  accent  may  cause  a  reading  of  two  iambic  feet  :   e.  g. 
C  34  Me  is  )>e  wfs  bat  ich  be  so 
48  pe2  ich  ne  ciinne  of  writelinge. 
Examination  of  all  verses  in  the  poem  with  their  context  will  lead 
to  opinion  that  the  poet  had  in  mind  generally  the  trochaic  opening 
in  such  cases.    Everywhere  in  his  line  he  placed  his  stresses  accord- 
ing to  the  sense  of  the  passage,  using  the  accentuation  and  stress 
that  would  bring  out  the  sense,  and  did  not  stress  syllables  merely 
for  regularity  of  sound. 

6.  softe.  In  the  poem  elision  affects  mainly  final  weak  -t : 
e.g.  14,  16,  18,  22,  24,  48,  51,  58,  60,  63,  75,  88.  Cf. 
Notes  14,  121.  As  usually,  elision  of  e  in  ne  is  marked  by  contrac- 
tion. 

8.  wole.  After  the  Conquest  iven  was  displaced  more  or  less  by 
uu,  -v-v,  or  iv  (cf.  Morsbach,  M.  E.  Gram.  §  10.  Anm.  1),  and  so 
the  forms  were  often  confused.  In  The  Oivl  iv  not  infrequently  = 
wv  or  -vu,  as  in  C  31,  35,  C  236.  The  0  may  be  due  to  careless 
writing  of  e  in  C  or  the  original. 

II.    C  oj^ere.    Sk.  and  Wr.  add  s ;   Str.  prefers  opres. 

13.  J  bo  <  O.  E.  pa  ;  sprtrce,  ace.  f.  —  As  far  as  indications 
show,  nouns  for  the  most  part  keep  their  O.  E.  gender  in  The  Oivl. 
Modifiers  and  reference  words  indicate  agreement  with  O.  E.  gender 
in  the  following  lines:  Masc.  303-7,  373,  345,  831,  811-2, 
1097,  1680,  680,  21,  513,  1238,  1152,  1196,  1374,  C  1300 
(French  in,  336);  Fern.  439,  1053,414,  318,  1378-80,443, 
70,  C949,  545,  1718,  914,  915,  429,  342,  1650-2,  C  1740, 
1741,  C  1750  (Fr.  Lat.  C  1116);  Neut.  J  1410,  233,  128, 
1440,  999,  641-5,  774,  230,  690,  166,  946,  1649-66.  —  A 
tendency  toward  adoption  of  '  natural'  gender  is  seen  at  344,  1159, 

356»  J  949,  28>  J  i3°°>  l68>  I434~8,  l^y  36o»  J7i7,  i*i| 
125,  1344,  J  1740,  J  1652.  The  tendency  in  the  poem  to  have 
f.  ace.  and  gen.  sing,  and  n.  nom.  ace.  pi.  take  masc.  forms,  bears 


witness  to  the  confusion  of  gender  that  was  spreading  in  English 
of  the  time. 

14.  one,  dissyllabic.  Hiatus  is  frequent  in  the  poem  :  e.  g.  17, 
40,  66,  86,  92,  103,  184,  186,  294,  311.  In  the  last  five  cases 
hiatus  is  found  at  the  caesura,  a  not  uncommon  occurrence;  usually, 
however,  elision  may  be  supposed  at  the  caesura  :  e.  g.  183,  226, 
276,  390.  Cf.  Note  6.  —  breche  [Matz.  11.  '  Cf  dial,  break 
(Brache)  ? "  Brad.  Strat.  Diet.  '  ?  a  fallow  field  ']  :  adopted  by  Str. 
though  he  notes  that  J  beche  <  baeche  l  valley  '  is  perhaps  correct. 
Sic.  adopts  J  beche,  translates,  '  In  a  corner  of  a  valley,'  and  refers 
to  baeche  in  Lajamon  5644  and  baches  in  Piers  Plowman  C  vm. 

16.  Jjar,  J?at  :  probably  from  similarity  between  the  abbrevia- 
tions for  par,  p at ;   cf.  Note  12 19. 

17.  ore  <  O.  E.  f.  dat.  anre,  though  O.  E.  hege  is  masc. 
Cf.  Gloss,  and  Note  1 . 

19.  ho,  he,  are  interchangeable  in  both  MSS.,  though  J  has 
heo  for  ho.    Cf.  Notes  21,  1374. 

20.  Some  doubt  exists  whether  to  treat  the  descending  forms  of 
O.  E.  fela  as  indecl.  neut.  with  gen.,  or  as  adj.  with  the  case  of  the 
noun.    The  former  construction  is  preferred  in  this  edition. 

21.  MS.  C  het  :  h  carelessly  written  is  much  like  b. —  O.  E. 
dream,  '  joyful  sound,  music  '  is  masc.  Cf.  J  heo  23,  and  Note  19. 
—  Two  or  more  unstressed  syllables  occur  very  frequently  between 
two  stresses,  where  usually  but  one  unstressed  syllable  would  be 
found.  This  is  met  with  in  all  parts  of  the  verse  :  e.  g.  21,  1280, 
198  ;  64,  119;  882,  1127;  283,  915.  Almost  invariably  the  extra 
unstressed  syllables  are  final  syllables,  unaccented  initial  syllables,  or 
monosyllables  of  minor  importance  in  the  sentence,  and  are  therefore 
but  little  emphasized  in  pronunciation  and  are  uttered  rapidly  :  e.  g. 
one  inflectional  ending  -e,  -est,  -ep,  -es,  -en,  -er  (-ur),  or  unstressed 
-e,  -er,  -el, -en,  1,  2,  C  9,  C  11,  114,  119,  252,  772,  1250,440, 
27i,  99.  39>  C  267,  76,  C  75,  i3°>  83>  84,  5^8,  286,  C  916  5 
words  or  syllables  one  or  both  other  than  inflectional,  one  begins 
with  a  vowel  C  123,  130,  327,  one  begins  with  h  205,  404,  52, 
698,  one  ends  with  a  vowel  65,  160,  795,  1476,  62,  346,  one  is 
an  unemphatic  monosyllable  284,  441,  635,  176,  150,  636,1063, 
187.   As  the  verses  cited  show,  the  above  phenomena  rarely  occur 


152  jpotes 

singlyr  —  How  far  the  author  had  in  mind  syncope  and  apocope  in 
such  cases  as  above,  cannot  be  settled  at  all.  The  not  infrequent 
occurrence  between  two  stresses  of  two  unstressed  syllables  of  such 
character  that  syncope  or  apocope  cannot  be  practised,  indicate  that 
the  poet  trusted  (very  far  more  often  than  some  Procrustean  meth- 
ods of  scansion  would  allow)  to  the  natural  pronunciation  that  would 
be  given  for  sense.  A  great  deal  of  the  melody  and  of  the  charac- 
teristic effect  of  this  poem  comes  from  this  free,  natural  pronuncia- 
tion, emphasis  for  sense  and  slurring  or  (better)  rapid  utterance  of 
unimportant  syllables. 

26.    C  \>o  <  O.  E.  f.  peo  for  seo  :   cf.  Note  13. 

29.  Rhyme  of  a  word  with  itself  in  a  compound  occurs  at  109— 
10,  127-8,  159-60,  231-2,  249-5°,  285-6,  3*3-4,  339-4°, 

345-6,  769-7°,  g^-2©,  1017-8,  1 163-4,  1 177-8,  1363-4, 

1 75 1-2,  1755-6.  —  '  Perfect'  rhyme  of  last  member  of  a  com- 
pound with  last  member  of  a  compound  occurs  at  144,  212,  256, 
376,  646,  908,  910,  1690. — 'Perfect'  rhyme  of  words  of 
the  same  stem  occurs  at  29-30,  137-8,  153-4,  367-8,  391—2, 

435-6,  7*5-6,  929-3°,  939~4°,  967~8,  i*33-4,  i499-I5°°- 
—  '  Perfect '  rhyme  of  a  word  with  itself  or  its  negative  occurs  at 
21-2,  267-8,  785-6,  811-2,  1525-6.  —  'Perfect'  rhyme  of  a 
derivative  syllable  with  itself  occurs  at  491-2,  581-2,  613-4, 
853-4,  869-70,  899-900,  1139-40,  1281-2,  1399-1400, 
H*3-4,  1707-8,  1773-4.— Cf.  35-6,  97-8,?  115-6,  533-4, 
603-4,  895-6,  1 1 13-4,  1445-6. 

34.  wrs.  Frequently  u  after  iv  is  omitted  in  the  MSS.  :  e.  g. 
C  406,  896,  499,  228,  589,  614,  408  }  C  J  572,  400,  846, 
"73,  i°99,  852;  J  505,  573-5,  548,  769-70,  1158,  1100, 
722,  793.  So  after  to,  i  is  dropped  in  C  54,  C  440  j  and  in  like 
position,  e  in  J  203,  J  lyzi  (werccAe). 

37-  min,  mi,  my.  Almost  invariably  the  scribes  of  C  and 
J  used  min,  pin,  the  art.  and  num.  on,  an,  and  the  prep,  on,  only 
before  a  vowel  or  A,  and  dropped  the  -n  only  before  a  consonant : 
cf.  25,  82,  94,  103,  45,  54,  4,  311,  73. — In  many  cases  in  this 
poem  assonance  seems  due  not  to  the  original  but  to  use  by  the 
scribes  of  permissible  spellings  in  the  second  verse  that  are  not  used 
in  the  first  verse,  or  to  the  use  of  a  form  of  a  word  that  assonates 
when  there  was  at  hand  a  form  of  the  word  that  would  make  good 


jliotea  153 

end  rhyme:  e.  g.  883  ibor^e,  sorwe,  37  tonge,  iprunge,  where 
sor^e,  tunge  were  at  hand  and  consistent.  For  assonance  cf.  coup- 
lets 476,  502,  506,  548,  642,  632,  660,  678,  688,  700,  792, 
856,  884,  1030,  1320,  1388,  1460,  1532,  1588,  1652,  1748, 
1790  ;  38,  66,  274,  284,  322,  328,  370,  416,  444,  460,  564, 
656,  728,  832,  836,850,  898,  916,  934,  938,  954,  978,  1002, 
1022,  1046,  1050, 1072,  1076,  1228,  1236,  1262,  1284,  1326, 
1380,  1406,  1456,  1464,  1468,  1492,  1506,  1556,  1584,  1608, 
1654,  1666,  1674,  1728,  1762,  1768. — Cf.  Note  63. 

40.  Professor  Fliigel  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  J  howelynge, 
'  howling,'  appears  to  be  the  oldest  certain  quotation  for  the  word, 
and  that  it  is  not  in  N.  E.  Diet.  The  following  derivative  suffixes 
may  bear  verse  ictus  in  the  poem,  and  bear  such  in  rhyme  at  the  lines 
noted:  -are  1186;  -ere  ?  807-8  ;  /es(se)  691-2,  747,  881  ; 
-nesse  369,  491-2,  899-900,  1228,  1 399-1400,  1405,  141 5- 
16;  -lich{e)  315,  401-2,  853-4,  1139-40,  1281-2,  1423-4, 
1707-8,  1773-4;  -hedeiSx,  351,  514,  581-2,683,838,  1219, 
1265  ;  -ing(e)  40,  48,  311,  446,  560,  576,  613-4,  626,  744, 
772,  795,  855  (cP.  J),  869-70,  875,  889,  901,  914,9s1,  986> 
1001,  1035,  1171,  1182,  1213,  1336,  1340,  1447,  1598,  1704, 
1718,  1760. 

41.  J  for,  'because,'  not  so  good  sense  as  C  fort  <  forte  < 
for  to,  'until,'  which  never  occurs  in  J  :  cp.  332,  432. 

48.  Wen  is  usually  used  for  w  in  C,  and  is  commonly  undotted 
(andsolike/>),  asin48,ioo,  106, 1 11  (2),i  13, 125  (  3),  126  (2), 
138  (2),  151  (2),  164,  165  (1),  187,  196  (4),  198,  etc. 

52.  SO  hit  bitlde,  '  may  it  so  happen.'  Slurring  may  be 
supposed  in  such  cases  :   cp.  339,  383,  also  73,  277,  994. 

53.  &.  Skeat  translates  '  An  (if) '  as  from  Norse  enda.  But 
53  continues  sense  of  5  I,  52  being  an  exclamation  thrown  in. 

54.  The  context  tempts  one  to  have  wise  =  'song'  at  several 
places  in  the  poem:  519,  1663,  1703,  and  Note  748.  Cf. 
Toller,  A.  S.  Diet.,  at  end  of  wis,  ivhe  :  cp.  Icel.  -visa,  '  a  stanza.' 
Oper  is  commonly  not  inflected  in  the  poem.  Of  course  wise  may 
be  dat. ;    '  in  a  different  manner.' 

57-  J  yit  indicates  that  the  original  read  wit,  and  marks  con- 
fusion there  in  appearance  of  wen  and  y,  which  dotted  or  undotted 
were  written  very  much  alike.    On  confusion  and  difficulty  concern- 


154  jpotesf 

ing  p,  $,  p,  y,  tuen,  cf.  Notes  and  MSS.  Var.  106,  180,  184, 
187,  215,  248,  272,  296,  309,  439,  614,  670,  689,  981,  1055, 
1 125,  1256,  1405,  1428,  1447,  1469,  1566,  1638.  This  con- 
fusion and  difficulty  occurring  simultaneously  at  many  of  these 
passages  in  C  and  J  points  to  a  likeness  in  the  forms  in  the  two 
originals,  or  it  points  to  confusion  in  the  mind  of  the  scribe  or  scribes 
of  the  originals  of  C  and  J,  or  in  the  mind  of  the  scribes  of  C  and 
J.  In  view  of  other  facts  (cf.  Notes  805,  812,  411,  707,  171 1, 
1388-90)  it  is  perhaps  best  to  suppose  confusion  and  ambiguity  in  a 
common  original  of  C  and  J. 

62.  C  se  :  probably  a  clerical  error,  se,  si  are  found  for  the 
article pe  in  Kentish  (e.g.  Sermons,  0.  E.  Misc.  pp.  26-7-8,  30), 
and  might  be  by  analogy  transferred  to  the  pronoun. 

63-64.  Irregular  rhymes  in  the  poem  are  due  in  great  part  to 
errors  of  the  scribes,  to  inconsistency  in  spelling,  or  to  the  adop- 
tion (apparently  by  copyists)  of  permitted  forms  that  make  poor 
rhyme:  e.  g.  couplets  at  103,  133,  143,  145,  335,  343,  405, 
613,  707,  837,  759,  921,  1063,  1157,  1303,  1337,  1329, 
I383,  I4i3i  '587,  1641,  1687,  1781,  1503.  Note  291,  303, 
633,  807.  In  the  above  (as  with  ou,  u,  ey,  ay,  ei,  ai,  e)  often  the 
irregularity  is  but  to  the  eye.  —  '  Gliding '  rhyme  may  be  seen  at 
278,  284,  378,  416,  632,  808,  916,   1 1 58,  1162,  1240. 

69.  j>e  Slllue  mose,  'even  the  titmouse,'  'the  very  tit- 
mouse,' slight  and  timid  though  she  be. 

78.  C  mist  :  J  myht  more  regular.  Cp.  J  353,  J  1113  :  cf. 
Note  642,  and  Morsbach  M.  E.   Gram.  p.  37. 

8l.  C  clackes  may  be  due  to  Northern  -es  through  Mid- 
land ;  but  is  rather  due  to  carelessness  of  the  scribe  (cf.  Note  209). 
Cp.  ivories  985,  bodes  1 155. 

85.  frogge,  regarded  as  food  (cp.  146),  like  snailes,  etc.  :  pe, 
dat.  after  to. 

86  The  presence  of  this  line  in  J  and  the  fact  that  the  scribe  of 
J  is  not  happy  in  his  emendations,  indicate  that  J  is  not  a  copy  of 
C.    Cp.  770-71  :  cf.  Note  1 195. 

88.  '  Are  for  thy  nature  (kind)  and  for  thy  right  (desert,  due)' : 
cp.  85. 

102.  Note  apparent  confusion  of  gender  in  102  and  the  follow- 
ing lines  :  cf.  Notes  13,  19. 


jpotes  155 

IO3.    Stele:  cf.  Note  550. 

107.    Cf.  Note  19. 

IIO.  J  stressed  for  sense  {in  pe  <vt  halue,  'in  the  outer  part') 
makes  poor  rhythm,  and  for  rhythm  had  better  bear  stress  on  in  and 
halue.  —  From  the  use  in  O.  E.  verse  of  the  stave  of  type  C 
(x  ^  —  x)  came  down  into  Mid.  Eng.  and  thence  into  Mod.  Eng. 
verse  the  practice  of  introducing  a  clash  of  accents  —  a  means  of 
varying  and  strengthening  metrical  effect  that  almost  all  the  great 
masters  of  English  verse  have  employed  very  extensively.  The 
author  of  The  Oivl  handed  on  the  clash  of  accents  (along  with 
the  syncopated  foot)  by  frequent  happy  employment  of  it  in  all  the 
positions  where  it  could  be  used:  cf.  (1)  1621,  543,  1111,  1190, 
1197,  C  1432,  1450,  1621,  1670,  1687,  497,  823,  1340  (poor), 
I409.  H5 3>  596,  C  1399,  1644,  689,  895,  821,  747,  825,  853, 
976,  1008;  (2)  21,  in,  176,  105,  206,  1064,  237,  507,  49, 
173,  100,  950,  787,  864,  97,  1533,  349,  345,  468,  658,  1162, 
599.  7i6,  79°>  I521  5  (3)  C  136,765,0  123,131,  1731,295, 
C  208,  286,  563,  236,  1479,  321,  333,  373,  753;  etc.  Cf. 
Note  311. 

1 15.  MS.  C  wiste,  probably  for  J  custe,  '  manner,'  the  scribe's 
eye  having  fallen  on  116.  Rhyme  custe  is  not  so  good,  but  sense  is 
clear.  The  orig.  had  probably  custe,  ivuste:  cp.  9-10.  Str.  adopts 
custe.  — J  dat.  -e  avoids  clash  of  accents. 

116.  J  segge]?,  imp.  pi.  epy  more  consistent  with  113. 
Il8.    C  03er,  influenced  by  neighboring  sounds. 

120.  Note  confusion  of  gender  :  cf.  Note  13. 

121.  J  vyrste,  'first'  (O.  E./yrest)  or  <  farthest'  (O.  E.  fier- 
rest),  not  so  good  for  sense  or  rhythm  as  C.  — The  article  and  the 
demonstrative^  commonly  may  have  -e  elided  5  e.  g.  in  797,  935, 
1293,  1769,  1785:  but  pers.  prons.  and  impers.  me  are  usually 
not  affected;  e.  g.  in  177,  201,  262,  402,  1365,  1564,  1702. 
Cf.  Notes  6,  14. 

124.   C  brid,  neuter:  O.  E.  masc.    Cp.  J  119,  120. 

125-  J  hym  :  dat.  for  ace.  hit  illustrates  the  general  tendency 
of  dat.  of  pronouns  to  displace  the  ace,  —  a  tendency  which  was 
checked  in  the  case  of  hit.  Observe  that  in  this  poem  the  dat.  for 
ace.  usually  occurs  after  compounded  verbs.    Cf.  Notes  308,  704. 

126.    C  ]?ar,   '  [to  a  place]  where,'  J  pat,  'so  that,'  point  to 


156  jpotes 

like  abbreviations  for  par  and  pat  in  the  original,  or  to  resemblance 
of  r  to  t  or  t  to  r.     Cf.  Notes  1 1 06,  970. 

129.  Clash  of  last  two  stresses,  as  in  131,  132,  C  136.  Cf. 
Note  1 10. 

134.  J  dat.  -e  gives  better  metre. 

135.  MS.  C  fron  :  cf.  Note  881. 

142.  Sk.  '  Right  as  [if]  one  were  twanging  a  shrill  harp.'  O.  E. 
griellan,  'provoke,  irritate,'  cf.  agrulle  1 1 10. 

148.  abisemar:  prep.  c.  dat.  'in  scorn,  mockery,'  -e  being 
lost;  or  ace.  '  a  scornful  thing,  an  insult.'    Cp.  13  11. 

151-  J  hwej?er  :  inter,  pron.  with  runkery  '  which  of  us  two,' 
clearer  than  C  contracted  ivare.  —  The  dual  pronouns  disappeared 
early  In  The  Oivl  occur  dat.  hunke  1733  ;  and  unierasgen.  151, 
as  possessive  552,  993,  1689,  1780-82-83. 

153.  The  nightingale  replies.  — J  frequently  omits  the  adv.  ivel: 
cp.   170,  346,  376/419,  546,  etc. 

161.  J  fine  :  older,  but  -e  ?  elided  before  the  vowel ;  cp.  169. 

170.  Cf.  Note  153. 

171.  MS.  C  wriste  :  cf.  Note  2. 

176.  Wei fyht  pat  ivel fiyhpt  Pro-verbs  of  Hendyng,  st.  IO,  Harl. 
MS.  A  like  saw  is  ascribed  to  Alfred  at  1074.  Proverbs  are  as- 
cribed to  Alfred  at  235,  294,  299,  349,  569,  685,  697,  761, 
942,  1074,  1223,  1269.  At  176,  289,  1037  Alfred  is  not  men- 
tioned. It  is  frequently  difficult  to  determine  if  expressions  used  in 
the  poem  are  original  with  the  author  or  are  based  on  some  well- 
known  saw  ;  for  the  author's  expressions  very  frequently  approach 
the  proverb  form  without  a  reference  to  them  as  proverbs  and  with- 
out exact  extant  proverb  parallels.  Again,  it  is  difficult  to  say  how 
much  of  a  declared  proverb  is  supposed  to  be  quoted  and  how  much 
is  the  expansion  of  the  author.  —  From  the  expression  at  235,  294, 
350,  one  may  conclude  that  the  poet  took  care  to  support  his  pro- 
verbs by  written,  not  merely  oral,  authority.  —  After  an  examination 
of  the  proverbs  ascribed  to  Alfred  (Paul  and  Braune's  Beitrage,  I. 
258),  Wiilcker  concludes,  'Das  ergebnis  gegenwartiger  untersu- 
chung  ist  also:  Es  waren  im  12.  jh.  mehrere  spruchsammlungen 
unter  Aelfreds  namen  in  England  im  umlaufe.'  Cf.  Lajamon,  v. 
6312.  —  It  is  odd  that  but  one  direct  parallel  (cf.  Notes  2 91,  667) 
to  the  sayings  attributed  to  Alfred  is  found  in  the  extant  Proverbs 


iPotes  157 

of  Alfred  (pub.  Kemble,  Dialogues  of  Salomon  and  Saturnus,  Ael- 
fric  Soc,  1848  j  Morris,  Old  Eng.  Misc.,  E.  E.  T.  S.  Pub.  49). 
Three  parallels  (cf.  Notes  176,  687,  1 271)  are  found  in  the 
Proverbs  of  Hendyng  (pub.  Kemble,  op.  cit.  ;  Varnhagen,  Anglia 
IV.  180;  quotations  from  Hendyng  in  these  notes  are  from  Sk. 
Spec,  of  Early  Eng.).  Cf.  Wiilcker,  Paul  and  Braune's  Beitrage, 
I.  240-62;  Skeat,  Trans.  Lond.  Phil.  Soc,  1897  ;  Morris,  0.  E. 
Misc.  It  is,  of  course,  very  probable  that  a  number  of  collections 
now  lost  were  extant  at  the  time  of  The  Owl,  and  that  some  or  all 
of  these  were  ascribed  to  Alfred.  Moreover,  it  is  probable  that 
the  poet  of  The  Owl  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  followed  a  general 
tendency  of  the  time  to  ascribe  to  Alfred  popular  wisdom  uttered 
in  colloquial  discourse. 

177.  J  omits  we,  and  spoils  metre.  — Note  omission  of  imper. 
pi.  -ep  when  pronoun  follows. 

178.  C  un-werste.  Metathesis  occurs  in  C  at  223,  249, 
1218,   1576,  also. 

180.  C  ysome  :  y  somewhat  like  wen  ;  cf.  Note  57.  Str. 
emends  to  isome  ;  Sk.  does  the  same  and  quotes  MS.  wsdnme  (!)  $ 
Wr.  and  St.  pnntylome.    Cp.  O.  E.  gesom,  'in  harmony.' 

184.  As  f  in  C  fo%e  is  much  like  long  s,  the  orig.  of  C  may 
have  had  sope,  'sooth,  truth,'  like  J  (for  confusion  of  p,  p,  wen, 
j,  y,  cf.  Note  57)  :  but,  as  Professor  Fliigel  suggests,  it  is  more 
likely  that  fo$e,  not  understood  by  the  scribe  of  J,  is  the  O.  E. 
fog,  and  the  whole  phrase  is  a  M.  E.  parallel  to  Germ,  mit  Fug 
und  Recht,  cf.  Matzner,  Wb. 

I90.  C  J?aref :  made  dissyllabic  by  influence  of  neighboring 
par  of }  —  Skeat  (Trans.  Lond.  Phil.  Soc.  1897)  calls  attention 
to  the  insertion  of  e  after  r  in  a  number  of  M.  E.  MSS.,  ascribing 
it  to  the  French  scribes  and  ultimately  to  a  feeling  that  the  Eng.  r 
was  trilled  stronger  than  Fr.  r.  Insertion  of  e  after  r  is  found  in 
C  areu  1498,  hareme  areme  1 16 1-2,  harem  (J  a  tern)  1260,  oreue 
1 1 57  5  C  J  bare}  bareh  408,  are^  areh  407,  are^pe  arehpe  404, 
1716;  J  pur eh,  bureh  765-6  ;  CJ  mure($,h)pe  355,  341,  718, 
897,  1402,   1448. 

I93«  J  WOrde,  'of  speech  '  :  in  view  of  192  worde,  not  so 
good  as  dome. 

199.  J   bihouhte.    Error    for    bipouhte}      Cf.    Matz.    Wb. 


158  jpotea 

'  behojien,  bihohyan,  ags.  behogian,  sol/icitum  esse  Bosw.  :   bedacht 
sein.' 

204.  J  gent  drops  elided  -e. 

205.  J  nujje  points  to  the  form  supe  in  orig. 

209.  J  N  :  an  instance  of  J  scribe's  frequent  carelessness  ;  cp. 
MSS.  Var.  and  Notes  223,  226,  321,  358,  513,  782,  917, 
983,  1019,  1198,  1 641. 

211.  C  him,  if  correct,  could  mean  'to,  for  himself.'  The 
scribe's  eye  fell  on  him  just  below  in  212  ?  J  ni>}  '  now,'  is  prob- 
ably the  correct  reading. 

215.  The  J  scribe  seems  not  to  have  understood  jare  (O.  E. 
gearu)  or  its  original  :   cp.  296,  488,  860. 

231.    C  '  to  which  misdoing  is  dear'  j  J  •  that  loves  misdoing.' 

234.  'Is  common  (current)  in  the  mouths  of  many  men.' 
Cf.  Note  14. 

236.  '  He  (a  person)  shuns  that  which  (cp.  1.  218)  knows 
him  [to  be]  foul'  :  (cf.  Note  8). 

239.  From  the  use  of  J  &  for  an  (cp.  J  1 718)  one  might  con- 
clude that  the  orig.  of  J  had  frequently  an  for  and  or  &,  and  that 
the  scribe  was  accustomed  to  change  an  to  &  and  made  a  slip  here. 
At  1476,  1489  the  C  scribe  met  a  T  or  t  that  looked  much  like 
the  character  for  C£f,  and  being  accustomed  to  see  an  and  &  inter- 
changeable and  probably  (though  less  than  J  scribe)  accustomed,  fur- 
ther, to  displace  one  by  the  other,  wrote  an  0  for  To  —  or,  as  he 
supposed,  for  &  0.  From  the  same  causes  C  scribe  wrote  &  honge 
for  an  honge,  at  1 195  (cf.  Note). 

242.  C  '  boughs  nor  trunk'  (O.  E.  strind,  '  generation,  stock')  : 
corrected  to  bo-v  ne  rind,  '  bough  nor  bark.'  J  bouh  of  lynd,  '  bough 
of  linden,'  is  probably  too  specific  to  fit  or  to  be  more  than  an  at- 
tempt, like  others  of  J,  to  avoid  a  difficulty.  —  C  sichst  =  J  syst, 
'seest'  :  cp.  /  sihst,  1225,  1230,  1232.  Note  that  in  C  50,  367,  e 
is  much  like  c.    Here  the  orig.  reading  may  be  siehst  <  O.  E.  siehst. 

246.  '  Who  sees  nothing  to  any  good  end,  with  any  good  re- 
sult. ' 

248.  Were  it  not  for  at  pre nc he  C  J  814,  one  would  feel  that 
C  at  prenche,  J  a  prenche  were  probably  due  to  similarity  of  p  and 
iven  in  the  originals  (cf.  Notes  57,  1125,  1566).  Str.  and  Matz. 
JVb.  adopt  ativrenche,  i  to  twist  away,  to  escape. ' 


jpotes  159 

249.  C  Jjane,  J  J?ene,  2 50 pane  <  O.  E.  ace.  m.  pone, 
L.  W.  S.  pane,  pene,  <the,'  as  at  1602,  1771  :  cp.  dem.  adj.  at 
1097,  and  pron.  at  1346. 

256.  J  hote  drops  -n  of  infinitive  :  cp.  262  beo.  The  infin. 
generally  ends  in  -e  in  both  MSS.,  but  more  frequently  in  J. 
The  survivals  of  infin.  -en  or  -n  are  found  in  77,  C  1 1 95, 
"99,  H3I,  15°,  9g8,  977,  C989,  C  256,  C  383,  529,  1190, 
669,  1764,709,910,  78,0678,  953,  987,  1066,  J  I28l,J 
1249, J  1691,  351,  C  672,  C  1368,  C  1018,  490,  C  978,  C 
486,  1508,  39,  C  1326,  C  408,  1039,  1341,  C  262,  666,  724, 
1280,  C  1489,  C  932,  C  H95,C  1 198,  C  1346,0  1354,  159, 
C  382,  1053,  1510,  214,  669,  952. 

258.  spale  :  Sk.  '  a  spell,  a  turn  of  work  \}ic\  for  a  short  time. ' 
One  may  accept  '  splint,  a  cleft  stick  in  which  the  tongue  is  caught.  * 
(  Let  thy  tongue  have  a  splint  (be  fastened  and  so  held  still). '  Cf. 
Prompt.  Par<v.  •  spalle  or  chyppe  (spolle)  S^uisquilia,  assula'  ;  J. 
Wright,  Dial.  Diet.  s.  v.  spale,  spall,  spelch. 

266.  nich  ne  nai :  ■  Thereto  say  I  not,  "Not  I"  ("No") 
nor  "  Nay."  '    For  O.  E.  nic,  nice,  cf.  Sievers,  332,  n.  2. 

270.  scharp.  Loss  of  pi.  -e  seems  to  mark  elision  before  a 
vowel,  though  the  loss  may  be  but  through  the  general  tendency  to 
clip  or  omit  final  unstressed  syllables.  The  loss  is  more  frequent  in 
J  than  in  C  :  e.  g.  in  204,  293,  537,  705,  752.    Cf.  Notes  6,  14. 

272.  J  ynne  :  confusion  of  y  and  n  with  iven  and  u  of  the 
original.    Cf.  Note  57. 

273-    '  That  I  follow  what  is  natural  to  me.' 

276.  VOr  I^te  Cunde,  'from  pure  nature,'  'purely  from 
nature. ' 

283.  J  metre  poor,  probably  from  omission. 

284.  C  }?if:  misreading  ofp  for  _}  ;   cf.  Note  57. 
289.    '  It  is  in  the  judgment  of  wise  men.' 

29I    et  Seq.     Cp.  Pro-v.  of  Alfred,  1.  412,  0.  E.  Misc. 

Ne  gabbe  bu  ne  schotte. 
ne  chid  bu  wyb  none  sotte. 
ne  myd  manyes  cunnes  tales, 
ne  chid  bu  wib  nenne  dwales. 

293.  J  Slim  drops  dat.  -e  :  cf.  Note  270. 


160  jliotes 

296.  J  cheste  vare,  prob.  'a  course  of  strife,'  '  the  faring  of 
contention,'  freely  '  where  contention  is  and  where  strife  is  rife  '  < 
O.  E.faru,  'a  course,  a  journey.'    Cf.  Note  215. 

299.  Though  one  might  expect  sipe,  'time'  (cp.  293),  C  side 
J  syde  point  to  O.  E.  fide  i  side,  hand  ':  an  oper  tide,  l  in  respect  to 
results  of  action  taken  contrary  to  the  advice  just  given.' 

307.  rede:  O.  E.  folgian  takes  dat.  ;  cp.  C  389. 

308.  C  him  illustrates  displacing  of  ace.  form  (J  hi)  by  the 
dat.    Cf.  Note  125. 

309.  of  governs  me  :  pinge,  ace.  pi.  — J  pet :   cf.  Note  57. 

310.  J  hasuncontracted  forms  of  verbs  more  frequently  than  C  : 

e-  g-  47,  34o,  755»  756»  *  al- 

311.  Cf.  Note  14.  —  Probably  by  influence  of  clash  of  accents 
in  O.  E.  (cf.  Note  no),  in  the  Eng.  verse  of  the  12th  and  13th 
centuries  it  often  happens  that  for  rhyme  dissyllabic  compounds  and 
dissyllabic  words  containing  a  derivative  suffix  (cf.  Note  40),  have 
secondary  accent  and  verse  stress  on  the  second  syllable  as  well  as 
the  first.  One  can  be  very  sure  of  this  usually  only  at  the  ends  of 
verses  where  the  final  syllable  must  be  accented  and  stressed  for 
rhyme.  The  lines  in  The  Chvl  where  such  accentuation  and  stress 
could  have  been,  are  311,  315,  375,  691,  1270,  1760:  but  it 
would  be  better  perhaps  thread  stress  on  the  last  and  third  or 
fourth  from  end  syllables  in  these  lines.  Usually  the  accent  is  shifted 
from  the  root  syllable  to  the  last  syllable,  in  such  lines  :  cf.  691, 
C  1270,  1336,  1760.  The  shift  of  accent  in  words  of  more  than 
two  syllables  occurs  at  328,  351,  592,  683,  ?  849,  1038,  1219, 
1468,  C  1488,  1600,  1677,  1766,  1754,  1758;  613,  626, 
795,  854>  855,  901,  986,  1035,  1140,  1171,  1399,  1773-4-  If 
a  prep,  be  stressed,  shift  of  accent  is  had  in  492,  869,  889,  1141, 
1182,  1212,  1299,  1375,  1400,  1598,  1753:  otherwise  clash  of 
primary  and  secondary  accents  coincides  with  clash  of  verse  stress. 
In  446,  1209,  1447,  a  prep,  or  an  art.,  in  1 21 3  an  art.,  must  bear 
stress  or  clash  of  accent  is  had  in  the  last  word.  The  same  is  true 
in  211,  1054,  1379,  J  1488,  1704  (cp.  1400),  if  and  is  not 
stressed.  Clash  of  accent  in  one  word  occurs  at  end  of  907-8, 
C  1 191  ( prep,  may  be  stressed)  ;  C  1423,  C  1281,  ?5i4,  ?  3245 
*586>  973.   IIO>   "4*1  (cp-  715),  C  1355,  J  581-2. 

323.  J  efne  preserves  -n  of  O.  E.  dffen  :  but  cp.  332. 


jpoteg  161 

325.  C  ad,  J  a,  '  at ' :  cf.  edgod,  Ancr.  RiivU  368;  edgodes/et, 
ib.  414;  etc. 

332.  J  avoids  fort :  cf.  Note  41. 

340.  J  '  That  one  accounts  of  (people  esteem)  thee  naught'  : 
C  '  That  one  accounts  thereof  (with  respect  to  that,  esteems  it) 
naught  of  worth.'  of  par  =  par  of,  not  of  pare  f. :  O.  E.  song  is 
masc. — Cf.  Note  310. 

343.  J  song  better  for  rhyme  and  grammar.  In  O.  E.  hearpe, 
pipe  are  fern,  and  song  masc.  Note  344  hit,  and  346  he  referring 
to  songe  :  cf.  Note  1 3 . 

347.  Ml-wille.  Sk.  'displeasure,'  O.  E.  univilla.  He  would 
prob.  translate,  •  beyond  the  point  where  displeasure  begins  '  ?  —  O.  E. 
oniville,  'pleasant,'  suggested  by  Egge  [Mod.  Lang.  Notes,  1887, 
I.  12),  as  is  shown  by  Toller's  citations  (A.  S.  Diet.),  is  doubtful. 
—  Cp.  422,  1535,  univille,  '  unpleasing  '<  O.  E.  adj.  univille. 
One  may  suggest  an  adverb  '  over,  too  unpleasantly  '  (O.  E.  adv. 
univillum,  -an,  oniuillan,  'against  one's  will'):  cp.  ouer-longe 
450,  ouer-sivipe  15  18. 

351.  -hede  <  *  had,  umlauted  by-form  of  had  :  Kluge, 
Grundriss,  I.  874. 

353.  J  maist  :  cf.  Note  78. 

356.    C  forJ>  takes  stress  from  first  syllable  of  eure . 

358.  J  >a  :  cf.  Note  209,  MSS.  Var.  406. 

359.  MS,  J  gives  stress  on  peyh.  — In  C  the  first  two  syllables 
are  unstressed,  a  phenomenon  that  occurs  in  between  45  and  50 
verses:  e.  g.  409,  482,  505,  628,  637,  663,  C671,  747,  756, 
825,  840. 

364.  J  eye  drops  dat.  pi.  -n  :  cp.  381.  —  an  for  am  in  both 
MSS.  points  to  a  common  original  :  cp.  Note  805. 

382.  J  drops  infin.  -n,  as  does  383  iseo. 

384.  Str.  suggests  an  prep.,  dare  sb.,  since  J  has  a  dare.  Cp. 
Cornish  dar,  m.  'an  oak'  (Williams:  Diet,  of  Anc.  Lang,  of 
Cornwall),  not  in  Wright,  Dial.  Diet.  —  N.  E.  Diet,  quotes  the 
line  under  dare,  '  I.  To  gaze  fixedly  or  stupidly;  to  stare  as  one 
terrified,  amazed  or  fascinated.'  Cp.  Matz.  s.  v.  darien,  Brad.  Str. 
Diet.  s.  v.  darin  5  Prompt.  Parv.  p.  113,  '  Daryn  or  drowpyn,  or 
prively  to  be  hydde. '  On  an  for  &,  and  J  scribe's  careless  omissions, 
cf.  Notes  1 195,  239,  209. 


1 62  jpotesf 

39O.  J  barme  :  ?  first  stroke  of  first  n  mistaken  for  r,  in  banne 
(O.  E.  ban,  'command,'  barman,  'to  summon'). 

400.  i-fare  <  O.  E.ferian,  wk.  I.;  strong  pp.  form  by  analogy 
with  strong  faran. 

403.    C  is,  'his':  cf.  Note  515. 

406.  The  orig.  writing  of  C,  is'vicst,  like  J  sivykst,  <  O.  E.  ge- 
sivlcan,  'cease,  leave  off",'  makes  poor  sense. 

408.  '  Of  a  boar  he  will  make  a  barrow  pig,'  '  Of  a  great  matter 
he  will  make  a  little  one.' 

411.  Pointing  to  a  common  original  (cf.  Note  805)  is  the  odd 
coincidence  that  both  rubricators  wrote  J?  for  probable  orig.  ?  H ;  this 
in  C  in  spite  of  direction  h.    Cp.  Notes  707,  955. 

434.    for  mine  }?inge,  'on  my  account,'  'because  of  me.' 

458.  J  teone  :  poor  rhyme,  result  of  ?  failure  to  understand 
orig. 

466.    C  better  metre. 

468.   word  :  dat.  -e  omitted  for  rhyme. 

471.  C  hine  ace,  J  him  dat.,  after  bi-penche.  Cf.  also  Note 
125. 

484.  hom:  O.  E.  helpan  takes  dat.  Cp.  887,  891,  1601, 
1719. 

501.  Cf.  Chaucer,  Nonne  Preestes  Tale,  357-8  : 

'  He  fethered  Pertelote  twenty  tyme, 
And  trad  as  ofte,  er  that  it  was  pryme.* 

502.  C  i-que)>e  :   cf.  MS.  Var.  and  Note  660. 

504.  chokeringe  :  cf.  ivrite/inge,  48.  Professor  Flu  gel  calls 
attention  to  the  fact  that  in  The  Cuckoo  and  the  Nightingale  the 
owl  defends  her  '  pleyn '  song  against  that  of  the  nightingale  : 
Al  thogh  I  cannot  breke  [v.  1.  crackill,  crake]  it  so  in  -veyn  :  see 
Vollmer's  ed.  1898,  p.  no.  Cf.  Wright,  Dial.  Diet.  s.  v. 
chokkered,  'obstructed,  choked  up.' 

506.    C  }at  :   cf.  Note  57. 

513.  J  Vo  :   scribe  careless  ;   cf.  Note  209. 

515.  The  tendency  to  read  pt.  part,  is-tunge,  '  stung,'  '  thrust,' 
parallel  with  i-do  513,  is  apparently  indicated  by  later  long  s  in  C. 
— »  may  be  his  (cp.  403,  571,  1483),  giving  tunge,  'puden- 
dum.'   The  unusual    is  for  his  in  J  would  point   to  a  common 


ipote0  163 

original,  and  perhaps  to  is  tunge  or  htunge  pt.  part.  (O.  E.  stingan, 
4  sting,'  hence  'thrust'). 

528.  J  tends  to  carry  pi.  gop  <  O.  E.  ga&,  into  the  sing.,  and 
has  regularly  dop  for  dep  (cf.  Note  779). 

529.  '  at  that  time  of  need  '  :  pare,  dat.  f.,  O.  E.  neod,  f.  or  n. 

530.  wike  <  O.  E.  iv'tc,  *  dwelling,'  or  <  O.  E.  ivtce, 
1  office,  duty,  service  '  (cp.  603-4).  J  beode  leads  to  derive  bode 
from  O.  E.  b'eodan,  '  to  command,  announce,  threaten  '  :  cp.  mis- 
beode  1 541.  But  J  normalizes  0  to  eo,  and  the  word  may  be 
from  O.  E.  bodian,  'to  foretell,  bode.' 

534-  J  Vo  :  scribe  careless  ;   cf.  Note  209. 

536.  mid  hom,  'with,  in  themselves.' — mi$tte  :  cf.  Note 
962. 

537-  J  houhful  drops  pi.  -e,  ?  to  mark  elision  :   cf.  Note  270. 

540.    The  regular  construction  is  for  to  lutli. 

541-  J,  poor  metre  and  rhyme. 

546.  to  me,  dome  (cp.  1672)  :  linking  of  two  words,  stress- 
ing of  logically  unstressed  to,  and  weakening  of  long  -e  in  me,  all 
to  make  fern,  rhyme,  is  parallel  with  a  practice  of  Chaucer  ;  cf. 
Ten  Brink,  Lang,  and  Metre  of  Chaucer,  §  328. 

548.  for-worde  would  be  better  for  rhyme,  and  more  correct 
grammatically  :   cf.  Note  660. 

550.  Note  the  consistent  use  of  -e  in  ind.  pt.  2  s.  of  strong 
verbs  :  cp.  1058,  1308,  554,  103,  1049-52,  1632. 

562.  re^el  <  O.  E.  hragel,  prob.  in  sense  of  armor  :  '  Thy 
outer  covering  does  not  thoroughly  protect  thy  body  '  ;  or,  '  Thy 
outer  covering  is  not  extensive.' 

563.  '  what  of  good,'  '  what  good  '  :   part.  gen. 

571.  for  is  bare  SOnge,  '  merely  for  his  singing  '  :  cf.  Note 
515- 

572-    no}t  modifies  supe  longe  :   '  dear  or  estimable  very  long.' 

575.   Cf.  Note  660. 

581—  2.  J  omits  al  and  causes  clash  of  stresses. 

582.  C  god-ede  :  to  omission  and  insertion  of  initial  h  in 
many  MSS.  Prof.  Skeat  calls  attention  (  Tram.  Lond.  Phil.  Soc. 
1897).  Cf.  in  Onvl  omission  at  C  1475,  403,  515,  571,  1483, 
1090,  118:  insertion  at  C  1177,  1 3  56,  1498,  1662,  1761, 
1785,  185,  and  general  use  of  hule  ;  C  J  1586,  1733  j  J  1225. 


1 64  jpotes 

589.  J  wenst,  poorer  sense  and  rhyme  than  C  iv[u~jnest. 

590.  C  stede  <  O.  E.  stede  (cf.  Sievers  §  263),  occurs  at 
966.  Elsewhere  (936,  1654,  1767)  it  is  displaced,  as  here  in  J, 
by  itude  <  O.  E.  styde. 

592.    C  ate  <atpe<  at  pen  <  O.  E.  at  pam  :  cp.  1513. 

599.    'that  (if)  thou  lie  not.' 

601.   C  mi^te,  pt. ,  makes  smoother  metre  than  J  myht,  pr. 

606.  helpe  to  :  cp.  664  ;  cf.  Note  484. 

607.  J  nyme  drops  infin.  -n. 

609.    '  For  it  is  precious  to  me,  at  Christ's  house.    .   .  * 
6ll.    '  Nor  shall  ever  come  thereto.' 

613.  J  drops  dat.  -e,  as  ivunying  drops  f.  gen.  -e,  614. 

614.  Both  MSS.  ivernen.  Wr.  and  St.  print  yernen  (O.  E. 
geornian,  '  long  for,'  '  desire  ')  which  Sk.  and  Morris  would  pre- 
fer, ivernen,  '  to  refuse,  reject  other  dwellings  (or,  another  dwell- 
ing) [than  the  great  tree],'  O.  M.  *vuernan,  W.  S.  iviernan, 
•wyrnan  (cp.  1 358),  takes  gen.,  and  makes  good  sense. 

615.  tron  :  orig.  str.  neut.,  with  wk.  pi.  nom.  ace.  -n  (cf. 
1133,  120 1).  — J  omits  tvel,  to  detriment  of  metre  :    cf.  Note 

«53- 

620.  Sk.  and  Str.  read  sniup  :  but  C  has  iven  dotted,  parallel 
with  J  snyive,  opt. 

637.  is  of  olde  iwrne  (iwurne) :  'has  come  down  from 
of  old  (cp.  685  and  Note).'  Str.  would  emend  to  ifurne,  i  a  sub- 
stantive formed  from  if  urn.'' 

638.  urne,  eorne  :  cp.  375.  —  Matz.  1.40,  mentions  a  par- 
allel in  Roman  de  Ren  art  4905,  Besoing  si  fet  'vielle  troter.  Cp. 
also  Besoing  fet  ueille  troter,  in  a  collection  of  O.  Fr.  proverbs  of 
the  early  12th  century  in  Cod.  Voss.  Lat.  31  F,  Univ.  Lib.  Lei- 
den :  Haupt,  Zeitschrift,  XI.   115. 

642.  C  mi3St :  perhaps  partly  by  analogy  with  most,  from 
*  motan,  l  may,'  partly  by  use  of  -st  of  most  verbs.  Cf.  Note  78. 
Rhyme  points  to  miyt  or  mint,  the  usual  form.  J  mist  points  to  a 
common  original  with  -st :   cf.  Note  805. 

645.  Strong  pt.  part,  -n  is  usually  lost,  but  is  retained  at  C  J 
115,   130,  162,  935,  1725;   C514,  645,  1094. 

648.  C  J?at,  '  that  which,'  may  be  ivat  with  wen  undotted  : 
cf.  Note  48. 


jpotes  165 

649.  J  \>e  or  We:  wen  rarely  occurs  in  J;  cp.  670,  1 190, 
1638. 

650.  '  And  after  those  [as  models]  we  make  ours.' — J  makiep 
keeps  -/'-  of  pi.  of-jan  verbs. 

655-  chaterestre  :  -ster,  -stere,  fern,  suffix  in  13th  and  14th 
century  English;   cf.  Skeat,  Prin.  of  Etym.  §  238. 

658.  Probably  a  proverbial  expression  bidding  to  cease  from  vain 
labor. 

660.  *  Was  well  nigh  out  of  counsel  become,'  i.  e.  was  almost 
at  her  wit's  end  what  to  do  or  say  to  help  herself.  More  grammat- 
ical iivorde  <  O.  E.  geivorden  would  make  better  rhyme.  The 
MSS.  tend  to  substitute  ivorpe  by  analogy,  without  regard  for  rhyme  : 
cp.  502,  548,  573,  575,  J  1491. 

666.  mid  alle,  '  in  every  respect,'  'in  the  whole  contention.' 

667.  The    passage   reminds   of  Pro-v.  of  Alfred,  0.  E.  Misc., 

1.  145  :   Strong  hit  is  to  reoive  ayeyn  pe  see  pat  floivep. 

668.  a}en  could  take  dat.  or  ace.  J  has  dat.  -e  despite  possible 
elision  :  cf.  Note  6. 

670.    C  J?an  ( or  wan,  cp.  716,  tven  undotted,  cf.  Notes  57,  48, 

2,  648),  'to  whom,'  dat.  of  rel.  pat ;  or,  less  probably,  adv. 
4  when.'  — ivinne:  coincidence  of  C  undotted  iven  and  p  or  un- 
usual iuen  in  J. 

67L  C  takes  rhetorical  stress  more  smoothly.  —  The  man 
must  by  speech  make  appear  what  is  other  than  the  truth  —  must 
speak  that  it  may  appear  that  his  spirit  or  courage  is  not  disturbed. 

672.  bi-hemmen  (O.  E.  hem,  'border':  cf.  Matz.,  Brad. 
Strat.  Diet.)  preserves  infin.  -n,  as  does  678  speken. 

679.  Coincidence  of  smudges  in  C  and  error  in  J.  — upe  pon 
<  O.  E.  uppan pam  (cf.  Toller  A.  S.  Diet.  s.  v.  uppan). 

680.  '  Here  is  [matter]  for  counsel  [to  him]  who  knows  it  '  : 
fed  is  antecedent  of  hine  and  is  dat.  as  in  C  1464.  One  may  read, 
'  Here  is  [means]  to  counsel  who  knows  it  (can  recognize  it  as  good 
counsel)'  :  but  masc.  hine  for  hit  makes  objection  to  this.  Again, 
one  may  read,  «  Here  is  [means]  to  advise  (to  afford  counsel  to)  [the 
man]  who  knows  (is  a  master  of)  himself.' 

682.   '  As  when  counsel  (a  wise  method  of  procedure)  is  in  his 
thought '  :  O.  E.  iven,  cp.  239.      Str.  notes  on  wene,  *  =  doubt.' 
684.    hit,  *  the  matter.' 


1 66  j^otrs 

685.    '  For  of  old  (cp.  637)  Alfred  said  a  saw,'  '  uttered  a  saying. ' 
687—8.    When  pe  bale  is  hest,  penne  is  pe  bote  nest'.   Prov.  of 
Hendyng,  st.   23,  Harl.  MS.     Cf.  Note  1 7 6. 

689.  J  MS.  jit  jest:  cf.  Note  57. 

690.  •  And  because  of  its  distress  it  is  the  greater.' 

696.  in  one  uolde,  '  in  [any]  one  fold  [of  the  repository  of 
good  counsel,  red-pur s\ . '    C  omits  doubling  of  the  negative. 

701.  J  hit  for  Mr.  r  and  t  were  probably  often  very  like  in  the 
orig.  of  the  MSS.  :  cf.  Notes  and  MSS.  Var.  680,  1106,  122 1-2, 
1260,  1341-2. 

704.  hire  dat.  form  for  ace.  —  or  ?  dat.  with  compound :  cp. 
ace.  199,  C  471,  828,  939.    Cf.  Notes  125,  308, 

705.  J  god  :  -e  probably  elided  :   cf.  Note  6. 

706.  J  alie  :  f.  ace.  -e. 

707.  The  coincidence  of  the  rubricator's  mistake  of  N  for  H  in 
C,  and  of  the  omitting  of  the  rubric  letter  in  J,  seems  hardly  chance. 
Cf.  Notes  411,  955,  805.  Note  that  the  small  capital  of  J  708  i3 
omitted. 

709.    Professor  Fliigel  suggests,  'originally  sumer  tide}'' 

723-4.  'That  a  person  may  consider  through  (because  of)  the 
song,  whither  he  must  [go]  and  be  there  long.' 

727.  '  And  take  heed  (learn)  from  the  voice  of  the  church 
(church  singing).' 

735.  horn:  cf.  Notes  484,  125. 

741.  C  bidde:  same  construction  as  zvarni  739.  J  bidden: 
opt.  pr.  pi.,  parallel  with  beon  740. 

742.  J  J»at  :  the  form  to  which  all  forms  of  O.  E.  se,  seo,  pat, 
were  being  levelled.  —  Ten  Brink  suggests  (Early  Eng.  Lit.,  vol.  I, 
a  1 6,  Bohn)  that  the  passage  707-742  recalls  Neckam's  De  Natu- 
ris  Rerum,  1,  c.  5  I  (  De  Philomena)  :  Quid  quod  noctes  tota  ducit 
insomnes,  dum  delicioso  garritui  pervigil  indulget  ?  Nonne  jam 
vitam  claustralium  prae  oculis  cordis  constituis,  noctes  cum  diebus  in 
laudem  divinam  expendentium  ? 

748.  The  difficulty  (*ves,  bles,  both  unusual)  at  the  end  of  line 
in  both  MSS.  points  to  difficulty-  in  a  common  original  :  cf.  Note 
707.  an  opcr  <wes,  'in  different  manner,'  or  (as  Sk.  suggests) 
'another  strain  |  Icel.  visa,  "a  stanza")  '  :  cp.  Note  54.  Not 
understanding  the  orig.  the  J  scribe  wrote  abyde  (orig.  may  have 


jftotes  167 

been  abyde  or  there  or  another  word)  and  omitted  the  last  word. 
The  blank  space  was  later  filled  with  clipped  bles  (O.  E.  blast}: 
1  endure  a  different  blast.' 

755~6-  J  has  fewer  contracted  verbs  :  cf.  Note  310. 

758.   Wr.  and  St.  print  ivareuore ;   cf.  Notes  171,  48,  2. 

762.  '  No  strength  has  power  against  rede  (good  judgment,  a 
wise  method  of  action).' 

764.  C  sholde  miste,  J  solde  myste:  Str.  suggests  O.  Fr. 
solde,  'pay,  wages' — hence  miste  pt.  of  O.  E.  missan,  'missed, 
has  missed,  lost.' — Perhaps  solde  is  sholde  (cf.  Note  209),  and 
miste  =  infin.  misse,  t  for  rhyme  and  by  analogy  :  cf.  mist  pr.  3s. 
825,  Note  1640.  Matz.  •  Miste,  fail,  st.  misse.  — Das  nur  asso- 
nirende  Wort  scheint  wegen  liste  in  miste  verwandelt.  Vgl.  ives 
statt  wis  1.  748.'    Cp.  also  J  bles  for  O.  E.  blast,  748. 

765.  J  Jmreh  :  cp.  J  bureh  766;   cf.  Note  190. 

767-  C  walle.  Regularly  in  The  Oral  st.  m.  ace.  pi.  coincides 
with  nom.  pi.;  but  the  exceptions,  C  walle  and  C  J  bridde  123, 
show  confusion  of  dat.  and  ace. 

770-71.  ac  wisdom  C  772,  makes  clear  that  the  scribe, 
having  begun  770  correctly,  was  led  into  completing  the  verse  from 
772,  his  eye  having  fallen  on  wisdom  the  second  word  of  772  as  of 
770.    Supply  J  pat  for  ac  in  772. 

774.    '  But  because  it  knows  (has)  no  wit.' 

776.    C  '  draws  in  front  of '  :  J  '  draws  by  the  neck.' 

779.   Third  sing,  dep  is  practically  lost  in  J  ;   cf.  Note  528. 

782.  J  h  for  hit :  cf.  Note  209. 

783-4.  '  Man  brings  it  about  .  .  .  that  no  other  thing  is 
his  equal.'     Prompt.  Parv.  •  Fyt  or  mete,  equus,  congruus.' 

785.  J  yere  :  wen  mistaken  for  y  ;  cf.  Note  57. 

791.  PI.  -/-  of  wk.  -jan  verbs  is  preserved  at  455,  650,  791, 
792,  850,   1355  :  totorued  11 19  drops-/-. 

793.  '  Dost  thou  reckon  concerning  (esteem,  O.  E.  tellan)  me 
the  worse  because  of  that  [namely]  that  1  know  (have  in  my  power) 
but  one  kind  of  cunning  ? '  — J  enne  <  O.  E.  by-form  anne. 

800.  Here  and  in  801  the  orig.  idea  of  wip  opposition,  and 
that  of  mid  association,  are  preserved,  though  elsewhere  frequently 
neglected. 

801.  lei]?  has  for  subject^  oper  799. 


1 68  JliOtfflf 

802.  J  0)>e:  cp.  J  614. 

803.  of  a  mo  swenge,  concerning  a  greater  blow'  (cf. 
Toller  A.  S.  Diet.,  s.v.  ma),  a  mo  might  be  '  ever  more  '  (O.  E.  5 
ma),  with  sivenge  dat.  pi. 

805 •  J?e  for  Pu  in  both  MSS.  points  to  a  common  original  j 
cp.  Note  1640:  cf.  Notes  812,  364,  411,  642,  707,  902,  962, 
955,  1 184. 

809  et  seq.      Cp.  y^Esop's  fable  of  the  Fox  and  the  Cat. 

8lO.    '  The  cat  keeps  life  for  himself  quite  well.' 

8l2.  for  for  fox  in  both  MSS.  points  to  a  common  original: 
cf.  Notes  805,  364. 

815—8.  Probably  refer  to  kat,  as  the  return  to  uox  in  819  sug- 
gests. The  fox  could  hardly  be  said  to  '  hang  by  the  boughs,*  unless 
the  line  mean  •  linger  by  (near)  the  boughs  (trees)  [and  so  be  better 
concealed] . ' 

818  C  J?an  :  dat.  displaced  in  J  by  pe,  now  becoming  the  pre- 
valent form.    But  cp.  826  and  J  pes  C  pe  gen.  in  822. 

827.  J  al  drops  ?  elided  -e. 

835.  mi  Solue  :  early  occurrence  of  myself.  O.  E.  seolf  sur- 
vives (1)  for  emphasis,  with  pronoun  in  nom.  497,  or  when  alone 
before  a  noun  in  69,  495,  746,  1679,  or  with  dat.  of  pers.  pron. 
810,  883,  1284;  or  (2)  with  reflexive  force,  with  dat.  of  pron. 
930,  or  with  gen.  835. 

836.  Cp.  712. 

840.  J  omits  al,  and  causes  clash  of  accents. 

842.  Probably  from  a  tendency  in  the  orig.  (a  marked  one  in 
C )  to  displace  with  -d  the  -p  of  verbs,  the  J  scribe  here  turns  the 
pt.  parts,  into  pr.  indie. 

850.   J  drops  -r-  offundiep,  pi.  wk.  11 ;   cp.  862. 

855.  J  singinde :  older,  and  from  rhyme  evidently  the  form 
of  the  orig.  Cp.  J  cumynde,  1 220,  the  only  other  pr.  part,  in  the 
poem. 

858.  sunnen :  survival  of  pi.  dat.  f.  -en  <  -urn  ;  cp.  m. 
bischopen,   1 76 1. 

869.    C  me,  '  to  me  '  :  perhaps  error  for  mi. 

874.    MS.  C  ghe  :  scribe  began  groni. 

879.  J  retains  -n  of  opt.  pi.,  as  -n  of  prep.  863  :  but  cp.  both 
MSS.  at  883. 


jpotes  169 

881.  'It  longs  them  (they  long)  [to  go]  hence,  nevertheless. 
Those  who  are  here,  woe  is  to  them  because  of  that  (i.  e.  that  they 
are  here;  pes,  causal  gen.).' — C  hon,  explained  by  the  fact  that 
a  dash  over  a  vowel  could  be  read  n  or  m  $  or  by  the  fact  that 
final  m  tends  to  follow  earlier  weakening  of  inflectional  m  to  n  : 
cp.  135,  890,  1397,  1482,  1598,  1614. 

883.   hom  solue  :   cf.  Note  835.  4P». 

887.    monne  :  dat.  pi.  with  helpe :  cp.  891.    Cf.  Note  484. 

890.   C  hin:  cf.  Note  881. 

901.  'Nor  does  any  one  think  that  because  of  thy  piping  any 
priest  may  sing  in  church. ' 

902.  Curiously  here  begins  a  new  set  of  spellings  which  ex- 
tends to  962.  From  962  to  1182  the  first  set  is  resumed.  From 
1 1 82  to  the  end  the  second  set  is  again  employed  with  much  regu- 
larity. —  At  line  902  first  occur  in  C  the  diphthong  e 0  and  the  con- 
traction for  pat,  per.  Here  too  first  occurs  in  J  contracted  pat. 
As  there  is  no  change  in  the  handwriting,  each  MS.  being  through- 
out in  but  one  hand,  the  change  probably  occurred  in  the  orig.  of 
C.  That  orig.  must  then  have  been  a  copy,  and  not  the  author's 
MS.  Cp.  carefully  Note  805  and  references  given  therein  :  Note 
1 1 84. 

904.  Except  for  a  very  few  scattered  cases,  h  for  }  occurs  here 
first  in  C. 

906.  muchele  more  neode,  '  of  much  more  need.' — J  cor- 
rected par  probably  arose  from  the  fact  that  the  contraction  (usu- 
ally the  same  fax  pat,  par,  per)  had  occurred  but  ?once  before  in 
the  orig.    But  cf.  Notes  926,  970. 

907.  First  occurrence  of  diphthong  ea  in  C. 

908.  Scotlonde  :  ace.  has  dat.  -e  for  rhyme. 

910.  Odd  contraction  for  and  occurs  also  at  C  919. 

911.  First  occurrence  in  C  of  8  (not  used  in  J).  Note  90 1 
ivened,  903  905  oder,  where  perhaps  $  occurred  in  orig.  and  scribe 
read  d.  * 

912.  J  smoother  metre. 

913.  J?are  :  perhaps  gen.  pi.  '  of  them '  ;   but  cp.  996. 
915.  Dat.  f.  pire  occurs  seven  times  in  C,  thrice  in  J. 
918.  C  J?ar  :  r  and  t  similar  in  form  ;  or  cf.  Note  906. 
923.  J  sou]?  &  norJ> :  cf.  Note  209. 


170  $ott& 

926.  J  forlete, '  abandon  '  :  poor  rhyme  and  sense,  r  mistaken 
for  t :  cf.  Note  1106. 

930.  heom  seolue:  cf.  Note  835. 

931.  J  wepe  drops  opt.  pi.  -n. 

932.  C  deoulene:  wk.  gen.  pi.  {-ena)  with  strong  sb.  J 
deouele  preserves  strong  -e  <  O.  E.  -a.  — C  to  beon  :  opt.  pi.  beon, 
J  beo,  would  make  better  metre.  —  Here  occurs  first  C  hiv  for  iv. 

934.   J,  poor  metre. 

937-8.   J  drops  dat.  -e. — J  gon,  later  ?  Midland  pi.  for  g op. 
941.    Str.  substitutes^/  for pe. 

949.   J  his  :  note  confusion  of  gender  ;  cf.  Note  13. 
955.    Coincidence  of  C  pule  for  Hule,  J  pe  vie  for  Vie,  points 
to  a  common  orig.  :  cf.  Notes  41 1,  707,  805,  812. 

961.  *  Dost  thou  ween  that  wise  men  leave  the  direct  road  for 
the  foul  fen  ?  and  that  the  sun  does  not  shine  the  later  (longer  — 
that  the  sun  is  not  still  shining),  though  it  (impers. )  be  foul  in  thy 
nest  ? '  i.  e.  that  there  are  not  as  desirable  places  and  conditions, 
and  they  bright  and  fair,  though  thy  nest  (the  place  and  condition 
to  thee  most  desirable)  be  foul? 

962.  Here  in  C  the  first  spelling  begins  again,  to  continue  to 
1 182.  —  Contracted/^/  occurs  not  at  all,  and  contracted />*r  but 
once  (  1042),  in  J  between  950  and  1 184. — C  rqtte  :  cp.  mi^tte 
S^S,5ette  1307. 

964.  J  neste  retains  dat.  -e. 

965.  one  hole  brede,  '  a  hollow  board  (board,  for  ?  log,  tree 
trunk).'  brede  <  O.  E.  bred,  is  found  a.  d.  1200-1500  (N. 
E.  Diet.,  8.  v.  brede).  Adj.  holh,  holeuh,  holu  (O.  E.  holh),  and 
hoi  inflected  hole  (O.  E.  hoi),  'hollow,'  were  common  at  this 
time  (N.  E.  Diet.,  s.  v.  hollow,  holl).  Cf.  a  parallel  reference 
by  the  nightingale  in  an  hol$  stok  1 1 1 3  as  dwelling-place  or  hiding- 
place  of  the  owl.  —  Matz.  prefers  here  '  a  broad  hole,'  and  cites 
Laaamon  II,  397  brad,  brod,  bred  (O.  E.  brad,  latus,  spatiosus). 
—  The  former  reading  gives  better  sense.  In  the  poem  the  single 
adj.  following  the  substantive,  at  the  end  of  the  line  or  elsewhere, 
is  very  rare. 

970.  C  )?ar  prob.  =J  pat  :  cf.  Notes  126,  918,  MS.  Var. 
967.  Contractions  for  pat  and  per,  par,  are  alike  in  the  MSS.  and 
prob.  were  so  in  the  orig.    To  accept  this  explanation  here,  one 


0ott&  171 

must  suppose  a  last  use  of  the  contraction  after  the  second  spelling 
had  been  dropped  at  962.  Prob.  here  par  is  because  of  similarity  of 
r  and  t :  cf.  Notes  926,  1106. — C  herst  would  seem  caused  by 
mistaking  x  for  r  ( cp.  for  for  fox  C  J  8 1 2  )  :  '  That  I  draw  ( betake 
or  associate)  myself  to  the  highest  (best).'  —  Matz.  suggests  a 
superlative  herrest,  if  such  could  be.  —  One  thinks  of  hunt,  hirst 
<  O.  E.  hyrst  (cp.  e  <  /  in  C  bi-chermet  279,  C  rekte  1602, 
C  J  sprenge  1066,  due  prob.  to  proximity  of  liquid  or  nasal  :  Mors- 
bach,  M.  E.  Gram.  §  114),  'a  wooded  eminence,'  'a  grove,' 
4  a  copse'  (here  a  clump  of  trees  by  the  house,  cp.  585-96,  et  a/.), 
used  at  this  time  (cf.  N.  E.  Diet.,  s.  v.  hurst).  —  Prob.  a  mis- 
taking of  x  for  r  is  the  correct  explanation. 

978.  Note  use  of  -n.  —  oferen,  i  frighten,  terrify'  :  cp.  Anc. 
Riiv.  p.  230  offeren,  399  oferd ;  La%.  I.  224,  II.  564,  offaered 
offered  ;  see  a-fere  221. 

981.  C  J  j?ar,  where  correl.  ivar  would  be  usual  in  The  Owl. 

982.  J  grede,  singe  :  opt.  pr. 

983.  J  no]?e  :  cf.  Note  209.  — J  lude,  has-*?. 

989.  J  drops  infin.  -«,  but  retains  opt.  pi.  -n  990  :  cf.  Note 
1014. 

991.  of  twere  twom  :  tivere  gen.  =  of  tivom.  J  of  tiveyre 
Vwom  indicates  that  the  reading  is  correct.  Matz.  suggescs  to  pan 
tivam  or  of  pinge  tiuam  (cp.  1477).  Possibly  tivere  tivam  is  to 
be  explained  as  the  result  of  analogy  with  O.  E.  m.  f.  ba  tioat  n.  bu 
tUy  dat.  bam  tivam  (cf.  Sievers,  324,  2  n.  I.). 

998.    Wr.  and  St.  print  War. 

IOOI.  houentinge  <  O.  E.  heof(o)ne  getenge,  'approaching, 
close  to  the  skies.'  J  houenetinge  and  rhyme-word  genge  support 
this.  On  confusion  of  e  and  /'  in  neighborhood  of  a  nasal,  cf. 
Note  970,  and  sprenge  1066.  Str.  prints  hecvene  tenge,  which 
Matz.  prefers.  If  tenge  be  accepted,  both  MSS.  prefer  an  irregular 
form  that  gives  poor  rhyme,  —  a  fact  that  points  to  a  common 
original  with  tinge.  'Rocks  (crags:  cp.  Gaiv.  and  Gr.  Knight 
1434  and  Matz.  11.)  and  hills  (O.  E.  clud)  nigh  to  the  heavens, 
snow  and  hail,  [this  physical  condition]  is  usual  (O.  E.  genge)  for 
them.' 

IOIO.  C  nute  <  O.  E.  nyton,  pr.  pi.  J  nutcp  gives  reg.  pi. 
-ep  to  an  irreg.  verb.    Cp.  Note  1 1 3  3. 


172  j$otc* 

1 0 1 1 .  C  no  J? :  crook  for  -er  omitted  ?  nope r  would  give  smoother 
metre  than  J  noht. 

1013.  bi-t^t,  'covered':  O.  E.  tyhtan,  tihtan,  'draw, 
stretch'  :  cf.  Toller  t\ht  111.,  Mate,  bitqten,  Brad.  Strat.  Diet, 
bituhten.    Cp.  Note  1446. 

1014.  J  drops  opt.  pi.  -«,  as  infin.  -n  in  1018. 

1 01 6.  Borsch,  Ueber  Metrik  u.  Poetik  (cf.  Bibliog. ),  asks,  '  Is 
Cardinal  Guala  meant,  who  was  to  divert  King  Alexander  II  of 
Scotland  from  his  alliance  with  France,  and  to  make  peace  with 
England,  and  who,  when  the  King  did  not  obey,  pronounced  ex- 
communication and  interdict  in  1 218  ?'  It  is  not  Scotland  alone 
(cp.  11.  907—10)  that  is  referred  to  here.  Moreover,  ivile  (1016) 
may  be  dat.  sing,  or  dat.  pi.,  '  once  upon  a  time  [on  one  occasion],' 
'  in  former  times. '     Sum  may  be  sing,  or  pi. 

IOIQ.  J  be  :   cf.  Note  209. 

1022.  J  omits  bepe  and  spoils  metre. 

IO25.  C  pr.  sol,  pt.  sunge  ;  J  pt.  scholdich,  pr.  tinge: 
'What  shall  (should)  I  [accomplish]  there  by  means  of  my  sing- 
ing ? ' 

1030.  ire  <  O.  E.  iren,  Isen:   Str.  emends  to  ise  for  rhyme. 

1031.  MS.  C  long  prob.  =  J  iond:  cp.  999.  O.  E.  gelang, 
'along,  belonging  to,'  would  make  este  &  god  comp.  subject  of 
is  :   cp.  1002. 

IO35.  C  tij?inge,  cp.  Icel.  tiSindi  :  J  tydinge,  cp.  O.  E. 
tidan,  '  to  happen.' 

1037.  Matz.  prefers  da$e,  'days,'  to  lap. 

1038.  J  )?at  is  poor. 

1040.  J  omits  yum  :   note  metre. 

IO48.  C  bi-clop,  'clasped,  embraced'  (O.  E.  bi-clyppan, 
wk.)  :  perhaps  by  confusion  with  bi-cloped  (cf.  550)  'appealed, 
accused  '  <  O.  E.  bi-cleopod,  bi-cleopian.  J  i-clupt  <  O.  E.  ge- 
clyppod,  is  regular. 

1050.  The  episode  of  the  punishment  by  the  enraged  husband 
may  well  be  assigned  to  Neckam  :  '  Sed  0  dedecus  !  quid  meruit 
nobilis  volucrum  praecentrix  instar  Hippolyti  Thesidae  equis  diripi  ? 
Miles  enim  quidam  nimis  zelotes  philomenam  quatuor  equis  distrahi 
praecepit,  eo  quod  secundum  ipsius  assertdonem  animum  uxoris  suae 
nimis  demulcens,  earn  ad  illiciti  amoris  compulisset  illecebras.'    De 


jpotes  173 

Naturis  Rerum,  1,  51.    Rolls  Series  edit.  pp.  102-3. —  See  In- 
trod.  Date  (10). 

IO52.  MS.  J  singe  :   infin.  with  ivoldest. 

1055.  J  yat:   cf.  1091,  Note  57. 

1056.  '  Bird-lime  and  snares,  (and)  quite  everything,  laid  and 
set  to  catch  thee.'  grineiv  :  O.  E.  neut.  n.  a.  pi.  gr'tnu  (cf.  Sievers, 
267). 

IO58.  hacche,  '  hatch,  trap.'  O.  E.  hacy  '  hatch,  grating  '  ; 
Swed.  hack,  'coop,  rack.'  Prompt.  Par-v.  p.  231,  *  hec,  hek, 
hetchef  or  a  dore  antica.' 

1064.    '  Which  of  the  two  thou  wilt,  wife  or  maid.' 

IO74.    Cf.  Note  176. 

IO82,  IO90.     Note  metre  of  J. 

IO89.  J  drops  -n  of  O.  E.  agen,  and  of  pt.  part.  1094,  and 
?  elided  -e  1096. 

IO9I.  King  Henri  could  be  only  Henry  II  (1 154-89),  for 
he  is  spoken  of  as  dead.  The  exclamation  scarcely  refers  to  the  soul 
of  Henry  III  (1216-72)  after  he  shall  die. 

1 106.  C  dart  may  be  wk.  pt.  by  analogy.  Prob.  dart  =  darr, 
r  being  much  like  t  in  the  orig.  :  cp.  Notes  and  MSS.  Var.  680, 
701,  926,  1220-21,  1260,  1341-2,  1353,  1360,  1471. 

1 1 13.  J  mist  :  cf.  Note  78. 

1 1 14.  J  twenge  :  opt.  for  indie. 

1 1 15.  heme  contrasted  with  hint,  'servant'  :  'man,'  'head 
of  a  house.'  Brad.  Strat.  Diet.  '  ?  from  ham  '  5  Matz.  '  cf.  Gloss,  of 
Shetland  and  Orkney  words  (Edmonston  1866),  hemma,  a  wife,  a 
house  wife — Mann  ? '  ;  re-quoted  in  J.  Wright,  Dial.  Diet.  —  hine : 
O.  E.  *hina,  •  a  domestic '  j  cf.  Toller,  s.  v.  hine  j  Skeat  Etym. 
Diet.  s.  v.  hind. 

1 122.  '  Then  first  thou  mayest  [be]  of  use  (for  a  use,  advan- 
tage).' 

1 125.  Wr.  and  St.  print  C  spore  ;  Str.  svveore,  because  of  J. 
Wen  and  p  are  sometimes  confused  in  the  MSS.  :  cf.  Notes  248, 
1566. 

II27.    '  Neither  is  of  any  account,  thy  life  nor  thy  blood.' 

1 133.  J  has  reg.  -ep  for  -e ,  -en  <  O.  E.  seulon  :  cp.  Notes 
1010,  1703. 

1 138.    '  Thou  art  naught  except  [when]  dead.' 


174  jpotes 

1 146.  J  omits  euer  and  alters  metre. 

1 148.  J  gen.  sing,  for  gen.  pi. 

1 1 64.    C  drops  ?  elided  -e. 

1 166.  to-bunej?,  '  beat  with  reeds  or  sticks'  :  Prompt.  Par-v. 
*  Bunne,  kyx,  calamus.'  'Kyx  or  bunne  or  drye  weed,  calamus.' 
Cp.  Shoreham's  Poems,  p.  85  (Percy  Soc):  so  to-bete  and  so 
to-boned. 

1169-70.    Note  effect  on  metre  of  J  omissions. 

1174.   The  clergy.  — C  keeps-/-  of  pi.  wk.  conj.  1. 

1 176.   J  drops  ?  elided  -e. 

1 177*  '  -^rt  t^10u  ordained  ?  or  dost  thou  pronounce  curses  [being] 
(quite)  unordained  ?  For  thou  performest  the  office  of  priest,  I 
know :  I  know  not  if  thou  were  (C  clearly,  indeed,  cf.  Matzner, 
Wb.  335,  s.  v.  $eare,  adv.  ;   O.  E.  geare,  gearive)  a  priest.' 

1 1 84.  oSer  si5e:  cf.  Notes  902  et  seq.  and  962.  —  At  1 182 
C  the  second  spelling  begins  again.  — The  scribe  of  C  met  the  con- 
traction for  pat  again  first  here,  and  wrote  out  pat.  Then  he  erased 
at  and  restored  the  contraction.  —  Note  coincidence  of  J  contracted 
pat,  which  here  first  appears  again:  cf.  Note  962,  and  805  and 
refs. 

1 186.  '  Draw  to  thyself  —  draw  over  on  your  own  side  of  the 
road  —  consider  yourself — how  about  you  yourself?  Evidently  a 
familiar  saying  like  •  Hang  up  thy  axe,'  658. 

1 193.   J  drops  opt.  -e. 

1195-  C  &  honge  =  J  anhonge.  an  for  and  was  apparently 
of  occurrence  in  the  orig.  as  in  C  ;  and,  as  Str.  suggests,  &  arose 
from  scribe's  taking  an  for  and:  cf.  Notes  239,  1371,  1718.  — 
The  correct  reading  of  J  is  evidence  that  it  was  not  copied  from  C  : 
cf.  Note  86.  —  J  drops  infin.  -»,  as  at  1198. 

1200.  J  a-storue:  cp.  O.  E.  a-storfen.  Prob.  error  for  an 
storue:  cf.  Notes  209,  1195. 

1206.  C  snuwes  or  smiles,  /  and  iven  undotted  (cf.  Note 
48)  :  uiu  from  oiv  from  aiv  does  not  occur  elsewhere  in  C  ;  nu 
might  be  mi.  Wr.  and  St.  print  snuives :  '  If  snows  shall  (are  to) 
lay  hold  (grip,  bind  up)  evilly.'  This  fits  the  context  and  the 
writing  of  C  better  than,  'If  smiths  are  to  clench  (rivet)  badly.' 
Str.  adopts  smipes.    Internal  th  does  not  occur  elsewhere  in  J. 

1215.   O.  E.  ab'tdan  takes  gen.:  cp.  1695.    But  in  The  Owl, 


j£oteg  175 

except  at  1695  and  perhaps  1706,  the  ace.  is  preferred:  cf.  1702, 
1778. 

I2l8.   MS.  Cwor}?:   cf.  Note  178. 

1219-21.  C  J?at  may  be  per  :  cf.  Notes  906,  1262. 

1220.  J  is  CUmynde  :    note  <  progressive'  present. 

I22I-2.  Wr.  and  St.  print  C  iivarre,  $arre  :  cf.  Note  1106 
on  r  and  t. 

1225.  Cf.  MS.  reading  of  C.  Wr.,  St.,  and  Str.  insert  him 
er  before  he  :  but  cp.  1230  where  the  pron.  is  omitted.  '  If  thou 
seest  [it ;  i.  e.  here  ?  <wrechede\  ere  it  be  come,  its  force  is  well  nigh 
taken  from  it'  —  because  thou  mayest  avoid  it  or  prepare  for  it. 

1229.  '  And  (durites)  shall  fly  toward  misfaring  (missing  their 
mark),  if  thou  seest  how  [they]  fly  from  the  string  [of  the  bow],' 
i.  e.  if  thou  seest  how  they  are  coming. 

1 23 1.  Attention  may  be  called  here  finally  to  the  frequent  omis- 
sion of  particles  in  J,  and  to  the  consequent  roughening  of  the 
metre. 

1233.  The  line  in  C  isappositive  to  1234  sor.  — J  pauh  makes 
good  sense  :  but  perhaps  the  scribe's  eye  fell  on  pauh  1235. 

1247.  J  '  where  he  knows  nothing.' 

1256.  C  J>ur}>  :  last  p  very  like_y.  Probably  the  orig.  read  : 
Al  hid  pur's  godes  iville,  with  }  ox  y  or  iven  of  pur}  obscure.  J 
Al  i  ivurp  supports  this —  as  if  the  scribe  began  itid,  and  saw  the 
troublesome  next  word  and  (as  usual  with  him  in  such  cases)  omitted 
tid  and  substituted  ivurp.      Cp.  Notes  1405,  1428. 

1257.  C  '  Why  will  men  bemoan  themselves  (cp.  J  1563)  be- 
cause of  me  ?  '   J  '  complain  of  me.' 

1260.   C  harem,  J  a  tem,  point  to  common  orig.  (cf.  Note 
805  ).    On  r  and  /  cf.  Note  1 106  :  on  inserted  vowel  cf.  Note  190. 
1262.  J  J?er  :  ambiguous  orig.  abbrev.;  cf.  Note  1219. 

1270.  C  worde  :  superfluous  -e  in  nom. 

1271.  pe  bet  pe  be,  pe  bet  pe  byse,  Pro-v.  of  Hendyng,  st.  21, 
Harl.  MS.      Cf.  Note  176. 

1272.  J  him  ;  cf.  Note  125. 

1285.  '  Go  as  it  may  go,'  '  whatever  be  the  conditions.' 

1287.  '  All  that  thou  sayest  in  order  to  abuse  me.' 

I292.  'and  (very)  well  might  [be].' 

1297.  '  Sb-e  had  her  wits  about  her.' 


176  jftotes 


13OO.  C  he  preserves  gram,  gender  of  wisdom  •  hit  1 301  is 
impers. 

1302.  '  Therefrom  (from  witch-craft),  wretch,  thou  must  purify 
thee.' 

1306.  'They  were  of  yore  (long  ago)  from  priests'  mouth  ac- 
cursed :  such  art  thou  still  —  thou  didst  never  abandon  witchcraft. ' 

—  C  zette,  J  yette  (cf.  Note  962)  point  to  a  common  orig. :  cf. 
Note  805. 

1309.  'I  said  (told)  to  thee  now  a  little  previously  (a  little  be- 
fore now)  [that  thou  art  accursed  :  cf.  1165-74],  and  thou  didst 
ask  [cf.  1 1 77]  if  I  were  ordained  as  priest  in  mockery.'  —  J  pre- 
serves dat.  -t  in  preoste. 

1315.  C  chil,  J  chid,  point  to  difficulty  as  to  Id  in  common 
orig.      Cp.  chil  1440,  goljinc  1 1  30,  sele  943. 

13 1 8.  The  MSS.  readings  seem  to  give  little  sense.  Str.  sug- 
gests pat  for  an  I  3 19,  takes  pat  1320  as?conj.,  and  inserts  pin  be- 
fore i-iuune.  He  translates  not  very  satisfactorily:  '  The  man  must  be 
well  star-wise  who  know  (sic)  enough  of  the  coming  of  such  things  as 
thou  sayest  that  is  thy  custom.'  —  But  ivite  is  rather  infin.  like  beo. 
In  view  of  J  i-nch,  one  would  be  inclined  to  accept  inch  for  innop 
(cp.  innoh  1220  and  purp  for  pur h  1256,  1405,  1428),  though 
J  is  not  to  be  relied  on  when  the  scribe  met  a  word  he  did  not  under- 
stand —  especially  such  a  word  in  an  obscure  passage.  Accepting 
inohy  one  would  read,  '  And  know  very  well  from  what  (pron.) 
thing3  come  (opt.  indir.  quest.  —  i.  e.  know  the  sources  or  causes 
of  things)  :  thus  thou  sayest  that  (pron.)  is  customary  (a  usual  thing, 
O.  E.  geivuna  sb.,  geiuunehc  adj.,  geivunian  vb. )  [with  thee].' 

—  innop  might  <  O.  E.  innop,  masc.  'the  bowels,  heart,  womb': 
1  And  know  the  hidden  sources  from  which  things  come. '  —  A 
difficulty  in  all  the  above  is  the  lack  of  ping  with  -e  in  the  nom. 
sing,  or  pi.  in  the  poem  elsewhere  :  the  form  is  always  ping.  As 
dat.  Pinge  occurs  several  times,  one  may  read  :  '  And  know  quite 
well  from  what  (ivucche  adj.  cp.  936,  1 504)  things  come  (opt. 
indir.  quest.),  as  thou  sayest,  what  (that  which)  is  usual  (in  the 
regular  course  of  nature) '  or  '  And  know  the  hidden  source  from 
which  thing  (source)  comes,  as  thou  sayest,  what  is  in  the  course 
of  nature.' 

1322.    Str.  states  that  bi-haitest  '  is  not  to  be  explained.    The 


jftotes?  177 

conjectured  biivaitest,  though  not  found  elsewhere,  may  mean 
11  regardest,  beholdest."  '  Cp.  '  he  way  ted  many  a  constellacioun,' 
Chaucer  Squire's  Tale,  121.  —  One  might  suggest  that  bihaitest  is 
by  analogy  with  pt.  be-heht  (A  Moral  Ode,  0.  E.  Misc.,  1.  238, 
biheyhte),  O.  E.  bt-hatan  (cf.  Matz.  Wb.  p.  242,  for  forms  hi- 
haten,  bihoten,  biheten),  'to  promise,  vow,  threaten  'j  and  read, 
'  makest  vows  to,'  or  •  threatenest  [with  thy  cries].'  —  As  d  and  r 
interchange  in  2nd  and  3rd  persons,  and  ai  is  but  a  graphic  variant 
of  -e  in  The  Owl,  one  may  find  here  a  parallel  in  meaning  to  the 
meaning  of  bihedde,  pt.  'guarded,  watched'  in  102  :  i.  e.  pr.  bihedest 
'watchest,  regardest,  beholdest'}  cf.  Matz.  Wb.  p.  243,  s.  v. 
biheden,  Lajamon. 

I34O.  J  spusinge,  better  rhyme  and  grammar. 

134 1-2.  MS.  C  hite,  awet :  cf.  Note  1 106. 

1346.    '  The  one  who  ought  to  be.' 

1348.  J  i-lere  connected  with  O.  E.  ISran,  *  teach  '  ;  prob. 
not  so  good  as  C  i-bere  '  behavior,  acts '  :  'to  that  end  is  all  my 
activity.  * 

I353-  Stunde  is  gram,  f.,  hence  masc.  ace.  sumne  is  not  so 
good  :  C  '  during  some  time  ' ;  J  '  at,  during  some  time,'  dat.  or  ace. 

I355.  J  '  because  of  ill-advice,  ill  methods  of  activity.'  Masc.  C 
un-rede  could  originally  not  have  ace.  -e. 

1358'  C  J  doubled  ne  points  to  common  orig.  — songes,  ace.  pi. , 
or  gen.  s.  or  pi.  with  iverne  :  cp.  Note  614. 

136 1.    '  And  they  may  act  by  my  songs.' 

1 37 1.  C  &  =  an,  '  in  ':  prob.  caused  by  use  of  an  for  and,  along 
with  use  of  prep,  an,  in  the  orig.      Cf.  Notes  239,  1 195,  1718. 

1372.  hi  =  wepne. 

1374.    heo,  hine,  rerer  to  masc.  songe:  cf.  Note  19. 

1380.  O.  E.  panne,  ponne,  would  make  better  rhyme  than 
Penne  <  by-form  panne,  or  than  peonne  by  analogical  substitution  of 
eo  for  0. 

1382-3.    '  Wroth  be  the  holy  Cross  with  them  who  .    .   .* 

1386.  J  neste  :  dat.  -e  helps  to  smoother  metre. 

I388-9O.  Str.  displaces  lustes  in  both  lines  with  lust,  lustes 
1 390  gives  quite  good  sense.  Prob.  the  common  orig.  had  lustes  1388, 
a  misreading  because  of  the  similarity  of  1  390  ( cp.  Notes  41  I,  707, 
955,  805).    This  would  indicate  that  the  orig.  of  C  and  J  was  a 


178  j£Ot(# 

copy  (cf.  Notes  1711,  805,  812,  902). — lustes  1388  may  well 
be  predicative  :  '  [It]  is  difficult  to  destroy  lusts  of  the  flesh.'  If 
this  be  taken,  he  1389  is  pi.,  and  abide  opt.  pi.      1390  hi  ace.  f. 

1400.  Wr.  and  St.  print  ivronehede,  ?  cp.  O.  E.  ivrane, 
'lascivious,  wanton'  :  turonc  (every  like  e,  cp.  50,  367),  cp. 
O.  E.  ranc,  •  proud,  arrogant,  showy.'  — J  ivlonkhede  :  cp.  O.  E. 
iv/onc,  'proud,  insolent,  lively.' 

1 40 1.  J  ace.  nyp,  better. 

1402.  honde  =  ?  shonde  (O.  E.  scand,  scond j  cp.  tchonde 
1498,  1733)  :  'With  pleasure  arising  from  [a]  man's  shame.' 
After  preceding  s,  initial  s  before  ch  is  lost  in  C  at  1 6 16,  1676, 
1 7 1 3  :  cf.  Notes.  As  the  MSS.  agree  on  honde,  perhaps  the 
reading  is  correct  and  an  obscene  practice  may  be  referred  to. 

1403.  As  usually  at  a  difficulty,  J  changes  the  word. 

1405.  C  )>ur)>,  J  "pur  =purh:  cf.  Notes  1256,  1428.  A 
difficulty  in  the  common  orig.  ? 

1 4 1 5.  '  Such  a  one  may  abuse  for  lasciviousness  who  (he  .  .  . 
Pat)   sins  worse  in  passion    (?  pride).'      Not  understanding   tellen 

<  O.  E.  talan,  t'elan,  J  scribe  wrote,  '  Such  she  might  be  in 
respect  to  lasciviousness,  who  .    .    .' 

14 1 7.  C  Bet  :  '  Better  [should  I  do]  if  I  should  bring  wife  or 
maid  to  love  [than  if  I  should  abuse  her] ,  when  I  sing. '  J  Hivet, 
prob.  better. 

1428.    C  JmrJ? :  cf.  Note  1405. 

1434.    hit  refers  to  yunling. 

1438.  J  '  And  he  leaps  (tumbles)  about  on  either  side'  :  cp. 
379  stard ;  1477  oper  ;  sid  drops  dat.  -e.  Cf.  Skeat  Etym.  Diet., 
s.  v.  start. 

I440.  '  What  may  that  child  (cp.  Note  13  15)  [do]  ? '  How 
can  it  help  it  ? 

1445.  Prob.  orig.  undotted  reoive  (O.  E.  hreotv,  'sadness, 
sorrow  ' ) ,  or  dotted  reope,  *  ruth,  pity '  ( Icel.  hrygS,  allied  to 
O.  E.  hrecivan). 

1446.  tohte  ilete,  'countenance  drawn  [with  grief  or  ex- 
citement   from    passion].'        Cp.    La^amon,  tohte,   pt.    of  tuhtan 

<  O.  E.  tyhtan. 

1447.  j  wunglinge  :  due  to  confusion  of  wen,  3,  y  ;  cf. 
Note  57. 


iliotes?  179 

1454-  J  corrected  htortt  bre\_p~\,  would  make  good  sense  per- 
haps as  gen.  +  nom.  The  heart  soon  loses  breath  and  abandons 
the  race  of  love. 

1457.    MS.  C  mines  :  ?  by  influence  of  -es  of  songes. 

X459.    MS   J  sike,  'sigh,'  is  poor. 

1464.   J  dat.  -e  is  better  for  gram,  and  metre. 

1469.    MS.  C  pi :   cf.  Note  57. 

1471.   MS.  C  sortes  :  cf.  Note  1106. 

1474-  C  '  How  any  man  ever  behaved  so  (O.  E.  far  an)  that 
he  could  drive  his  heart  (mind)  to  do  it  to  another  man's  wife  : 
for  it  is  either  of  two  things  .  .  .*  J  *  How  any  man  haveth  such 
a  course  (O.  E.  for,  forui  f. )  as  (rel.  pat)  could  drive  his  heart 
.  .  .  '  :  or  '  .  .  .  haveth  such  a  course  that  [he:  cp.  C  e]  might 
drive  his  heart  .    .    .' 

1476.  C  an  O  :  as  in  1489,  due  to  scribe's  mistaking  t  or 
capital  t  for  the  sign  for  &,  and  retaining  0  of  to.      Cf.  Note  1 195. 

1477.  '  For  it  is  either  of  two  things  (cp.  oper  J  1438).* 

1482.  MS.  Cwisdon:  cf.  Note  881. 

1483.  C  is:  cp.  e  1475  and  cf.  Note  515.  —  Brad.  Strat. 
Diet,  quotes  this  line  under  '  hear '  <  O.  E.  kyran,  perhaps  with 
the  idea,  '  Hearken  willingly  to  counsel  (hure)  to  do  him  shame 
of  (in  respect  to)  his  wife.'  hure  probably  <  O.  E.  hyrian,  *  to 
hire,  obtain,  procure'  :  cp.  bugge  and  context  1506,  which  is 
evidently  a  returning  to  the  thought  in  this  line. 

I487.  J  adredej?  :   indie,  poor  rhyme. 

1489.    C  an  O  :  cf.  Note  1476. 

I491.  J  wurj?e  :   cf.  Note  660. 

X494.    A  poor  line  in  C. 

I498.  J  '  The  one  (or  That  one)  is  at  the  shame  of  the  other,' 
is  prob.  a  result  of  the  J  scribe  trying  to  correct  what  he  could  not 
understand.  — pat  on,  cf.  1500-02  ;  pat  oper,  cf.  1503-10  :  both 
refer  to  1477. 

1509.  he  lai,  prob.  'she'  ;  cp.  1494,  1505  :  cf.  Notes  19, 
107. 

I512-I3.  C  J?at  te  <  pat  pe:  atte  (cp.  592)  <  O.  E. 
at  pam,  orig.  only  masc.  and  neut.  before  initial  consonant :  the 
fern,  was  atter  (Jrume  orig.  fern.)  <  O.  E.  at  pare. 

I520-    C  mode  :  -e  for  ?  length  of  voweL 


180  j|iote$ 

1523-6.  J?at  leof  is,  '  to  whom  it  is  dear  (a  dear  thing).'  — 
C  I  525 /we,  'that  one,'  refers  to  pare  pat  1526. — J  pare  1525, 
1526,  refers  to  ivymmon.  — gulte,  pr.  indie.  3  sing.,  result  of  syn- 
cope and  assimilation  ;  -e  for  rhyme.  J  1526  'pursues  the  one 
who  has  naught. ' 

1527.  at-tom  for  at  horn,  '  at  home.' 

1528.  huse  :  ace.  -t  for  rhyme  or  vowel  length.  —  Wr, 
prints  \oper\  lere. 

1532.   i-schire  :  poor  rhyme. 

1538.  C  better  metre. 

1539.  C  J?  is  :  crook  of  contraction  for  per,  omitted. 
1566.  J  wine,  wiue:  cp.  Notes  57,  248,  1125. 

1569.  Str.  reads  pat  as  conj. ,  and  supplies  he.  pat  is  a  rel.  pron. 
with  antecedent  ore. 

1572.  for  June  felle,  '  to  save  thy  skin.* 

1576.  MS.  C  hlad  :  cf.  Note  178. 

1578.  de}>  after  J>an,  •  behaves  accordingly.'  O.  E.  tvif, 
neut. 

1588.  Adv.  sore  1587  would  at  first  lead  to  accept  sore  as  adv. 
Then  ongred  (J  ongrep)  as  3  sing,  impers.  (cf.  Matz.  Wb.~)  would 
give  :  '  And  it  grieves  her  (she  is  grieved)  sorely  at  heart.'  —  Pt. 
part,  ongred  rhymes  better  with  ofionged,  and  sore  may  be  dat.  inst. 
of  substantive  :    '  And  because  of  her  pain,  grieved  at  heart.* 

1 592.  C.  Juin  J?  =  J  Junk}? :  cf.  the  variants  of  3  sing,  in  1 472, 
1473,  1649,  1651,  1694. 

1597.  for  hire  Junge,  'on  her  account.' 

1598.  C  sun:  cf.  Note  881.  —  MS.  murnige:  dash  over  i 
for  n,  omitted. 

1 60 1.  hire  :  cf.  Note  484. 

1602.  hoJeJ?,  howej?:  evidently  same  division  of  words  in 
common  orig.     J,  iven  and_j  confused:  cf.  Note  57. 

1603.  C  ah  :  better  sense  than  J  &. 

1607.    C  ylaS  :  supported  by  reference  at  1641-2. 

1614.   C  fron:  cf.  Note  881. 

1616.    C  schadde  <  O.  E.  sceadan:  cf.  Note  1402. 

1618.  inmeaj^e,  unmej?e  (cp.  352),  compare  <  O.  M. 
unmep,  W.  S.  -maP'.  '  lack  of  moderation,'  '  error,  blame,  trans- 
gression.'    '  Wherefore  (Therefore)  is  indeed  blame  for  thee,'  i.  e. 


jftotea  181 

*  because,  though  thou  liest  dead  .  .  .,'  thou  canst  not  equal 
me. 

1 620- 1.  '  Thy  death  is  naught  (of  no  advantage)  to  any  thing  : 
I  know  not  at  all  for  what  thoumayest  [be  of  avail,  profit].' 

1624.  }>e  :  perhaps  instrumental  of  pat:  'thereby.' — Cp. 
O.  E.  pa  git,  pa  get. 

1627.  tolli  :  cp.  Anc.Riiv.  290,  5  tolleS,  'draws'  ;  Piers 
Plowman  B  v.  214  tolled,  *  drew '  ;  cf.  Seinte  Mar/terete,  E.  E. 
T.  S.  Pub.  p.  10  for  a  list  of  uses  of  tollen  in  this  sense. 

1631-2.  *  But  thou  never,  in  life  nor  in  death  (adv.  gen.)  didst 
6tand  man  stead  (cf.  Toller,  A.  S.  Diet.  s.  v.  stal  in.)  for  good 
[to  gode,  cp.  to  hiuan  1621,  1633).' 

1633.  '  I  know  not  for  what  [end]  thou  producest  (?  O.  E. 
bregdan,  br'edan,  "to  weave,  draw,  draw  forth")  thy  brood.' 
J  ivord,  '  drawest  forth  thy  speech,'  or  '  cunningly  entanglest 
thy  speech,'  as  the  verb  will  permit.  Difficulty  lies  in  breist,  from 
bregdan.  Str.  emends  to  bredst,  and  later  (Eng.  Stud.  1.  212-14) 
alters  this  to  brest,  without  comment  in  either  case.  J  breist  pi 
•word,  '  ?  brayest,  resoundest  harshly,  thy  speech  '  :  O.  Fr.  braire. 

164O.  Str.  and  Sk.  prefer  C  pu  (cp.  805  peseist),  which  makes 
lore  (f.  ace.)  correct  in  form.  —  mist,  'fails,'  3  sing.  (cp.  825) 
and  lore  nom.  (-e  for  rhyme  and  vowel  length)  would  preserve  pe, 
dat.    J  scribe  omitted  pu.  —  Wr.  and  St.  print  nust. 

1641-2.   Cp.  1607-15. 

X642.  MS.  C   worj?:  cf.  Note  178. 

1649.   J?at  game,  neut.  :  cp.  1666. 

1 65 1.    '  Methinks  that  thou  playest  into  my  hands.' 

1665.    '  one  cryeth  in  shame  upon  (to)  the  man.* 

1668.    '  summoned  [thy]  army.' 

1672.  to  me:  cf.  Note  546. 

l675>  Indecl.  rel.  pe  is  displaced  in  J  by  pat,  now  becoming  the 
general  relative:  cp.  1346,  1386,  and  1352,  1383,  1447,  1671. 

1676.  C  scharpe :  cf.  Note  1402. 

1680.  Note  C  mid,  J  tvyp  :  cf.  Note  800. 

1681.  Cbo  J»e,  J  beo  J?',  point  to  common  orig.:cf.  Note  805. 

1683.  Str.  retains  C  schille,  prob.  as  adv.  'shrilly,'  'vehe- 
mently' (cp.  adj.  1 721),  with  grede,  pr.  with  fut.  sense  (cp. 
1698).      Perhaps  schille  is  a  slip  for  schulle. 


1 82  j£otes 

1690-1.  J  comen,  holden,  retain  pt.  pi.  -«. 

1692.  Str.  displaces  par  by  pat.  — Impers.  me  inserted  as  sub- 
ject would  make  poor  metre. 

1695-  domes:  gen.  s.  or  ace.  pi.  with  abide  j  cf.  Notes 
1215,  1706. 

1703.  J  schullej? :  cf.  Note  1 1 33. 

1706.  on-sene  :  ?gen.  (O.  E.  f.  -e)  with  abide  ;  cf.  Note 
1695. 

1708.  '  For  though  she  would  not  so  eagerly  have  gone  after 
her  forces   .    .    .' 

171 1.  New  paragraph  in  both  MSS.  contrary  to  sense,  points 
to  a  common  original,  which  from  the  error  must  have  been  a  copy : 
cf.  Notes  805,  812,  902,  1388-90. 

1713.   C  schelde  :  cf.  Note  1402. 

1 715.  'Through  bold  words  and  with  [fierce]  appearance,  be- 
havior. ' 

1718.  J  &,  or  in  contracted:  if  cif,  prob.  for  an,  prep.  Cf. 
Notes  1 195,  1371. 

1725-6.    Str.  and  Sk.  emend  to  monne,  ponne. 

1728.    '  Though  she  should  [speak]  before  the  king  ':  J  dat.  -e. 

1 73 1.  Str.  and  Sk.  emend  to  pan  kinge,  dat.,  for  sense  and 
metre.  One  may  suppose  omission  of  an  antecedent  of  he  1732, 
his  1734.  —  Perhaps  the  poet  carried  over  in  mind  king  1728  to 
1732,  and  used  panne  as  adv.  '  then  '  :  heo  and  he  are  interchange- 
able, cf.  Note  19. 

1733.  inc  <  O.  E.  inc,  dat.  of  git,  (  you  two,'  would  have 
been  better  than  hunke  <  O.  E.  unc,  '  us  two.'  J  1734  has  ive 
for  $e  :  cf.  Note  57.      Cp.  J  eu  for  us  1747. 

1739.    '  I  grant  it  indeed  (willingly).' 

1741.    Only  occurrence  in  The  Oivl  of  dat.  f.  mire. 

1750.  J  '  her  linden.'      C  ore  linde,  dat.  f. 

1 75 1.  J  scribe  did  not  understand  unusual  nu^te  <  O.  E. 
nyton,  or  there  was  in  the  orig.  a  form  difficult  for  both  scribes. 

1752.  Portesham  parish  is  near  Weymouth.  In  former  times 
the  advowson  and  manor  were  held  by  the  monastery  of  Abbots- 
bury.  Sk.  notes  that  the  town  Portesham,  south-east  of  Dorches- 
ter, is  now  about  three  miles  inland. 

1764.    '  Why  wili  they  not  take  to  themselves  as  a  wise  course 


jpotea  183 

of  procedure  that  he  should  be  with  them  .  .  . '  ;  or  '  Why  will 
they  not  take  to  themselves  [what  will  be]  as  wise  counsel,  so 
that  he  .   . 

1777.  '  So  they  condemn  their  intelligence  [as]  in  error 
(  foolish ) . ' 

1779.    '  But  let  us,  however,  fare  to  him.' 

1783.   J  dome,  'judgment,  verdict:  '   poor  sense  and  rhyme. 

1785.  ende:  dat.  or  ace.  5  cp.  11 32  (O.  E.  ende,  'end,* 
'  district  * ) .  'for  all,  from  beginning  to  end  '  ;  or,  '  for  all  the 
matter,  from  the  beginning.' 

I79I-  Ver  heo  bi-COme,  '  where  they  arrived,'  or  '  where 
they  should  arrive.' 


TBtbliograp^ 

I     EDITIONS    AND   SELECTIONS 

1838.  Josephus  Stevenson,  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale,  A 
Poem  of  the  Twelfth  Century.  Now  First  Printed  from  MSS.  in 
the  Cottonian  Library  and  at  Jesus  College,  Oxford :  FP"tth  an  In- 
troduction and  Glossary.  London  :  for  the  Roxburghe  Club.  — 
Text  from  MS.  Cott.,  with  a  few  readings  from  MS.  Jes.  Coll.  in 
footnotes,  and  a  poor  glossary. 

1843.  T.  Wright,  The  Oivl  and  the  Nightingale:  An  Early 
English  Poem  Attributed  to  Nicholas  de  Guildford.  .  .  .  Lon- 
don :  for  the  Percy  Society.  —  A  print  of  MS.  Cott.,  with  four 
pages  of  introduction. 

1867.  E.  Matzner,  Altenglische  Sprachproben,  I.  40  ff. — 
Lines  701—1040  of  poem,  with  notes. 

1868.  F.  H.  Stratmann,  An  Old  English  Poem  of  the  O-wl 
and  the  Nightingale.  Printed  for  the  editor  by  Kramer  &  Baum, 
Krefeld.  —  One  page  of  preface  ;  eclectic  text ;  most  of  the  read- 
ings of  both  MSS.  in  footnotes  ;   three  pages  of  notes  on  text. 

1882.  R.  Morris,  Specimens  of  Early  English,  Part  I.  pp. 
l7ifF.  Oxford. — Lines  1-94  5  139-2325253-82;  303-52; 
391-446;  549-55  5  597-624;  659-68;  707-5°  5  837-55i 
905-20;  1635-82;  1689-1794  ;  with  notes. 

II     LANGUAGE    AND   TEXTUAL  CRITICISM 

1870.  H.  Noelle,  Ueber  die  Sprache  des  Altenglischtn  Gedichtt 
von  der  Eule  und  Nachtigall.      Gottingen  Diss. 

1875.  L.  A.  Sherman,  A  Grammatical  Analysis  of  the  Old 
English  Poem  of  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale.  Trans,  of  Amer. 
Phil.  Assoc,  1875,  PP-  69-88. 

1877.  F.  H.  Stratmann,  Emendations  and  Additions  to  the 
Old  English  Poem  of  the  Owl  and  the  Nightingale.  Englitche 
Studien,  1.  212-14.  —  Corrections  of  text  of  1868. 


UBibliogtap^  185 

1878.  T.  L.  K.  Oliphant,  The  Old  and  Middle  English,  pp. 
305—14.      London. 

1887.  A.  E.  Egge,  Notes  on  Specimens  of  Early  English. 
Modern  Language  Notes,  1887,  I.   12-14. 

I902.  E.  A.  Kock,  Interpretations  and  Emendations  of  Early 
English  Texts.  Anglia,  25.  pp.  323-25.  —  Notes  on  Morris  and 
Skeat's  Specimens  of  Early  English,  Part  I,  2nd  edit. 

Ill     VERSIFICATION 

1838.  E.  Guest,  A  History  of  English  Rhythms.  Edited  by 
W.  Skeat,  pp.  427  ff.,  London,   1882. 

1 88 1.  J.  Schipper,  Altenglisches  Metrik,  §  1 21.      Bonn. 

1883.  J.  Borsch,  Ueber  Metrik  und  Poetik  der  Altenglischen 
Dichtung  The  Owl  and  the  Nightingale.      Miinster  Diss. 

1906.  G.  Saintsbury,  A  History  of  English  Prosody,  I.  56  ff. 
London. 

IV     AUTHOR,   DATE,  LITERARY    CRITICISM, 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 

1774.  T.  Warton,  History  of  English  Poetry.  Edit,  of  1840, 
1.  pp.  24  ff.  :  edit,  by  Hazlitt,  1854;  Sweet  in  4th  edit,  of  Haz- 
litt,  1871,  2.  pp.  38-39. 

1846.  T.  Wright,  Biographia  Britannica  Literaria.  Anglo- 
Norman  Period,  p.  438.      London. 

1847-  Sir  F.  Madden,  Layamon  s  Brut,  I.  pp.  xxxiv-xxxvi ; 
on  orthography,  p.  xxxii. 

1862.  Sir  T.  D.  Hardy,  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Manuscripts 
Relating  to  the  Early  History  of  Great  Britain,  3.  pp.  85-86. 
Rolls  Series,  no.  26. 

1862.  G.  P.  Marsh,  Origin  and  History  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage, pp.  205-1 1. 

1866.  R.Wiilcker,  Neuangelsachischen  Sprachdenkmaler.  Paul 
&  Braune's  Beitrage,  I.  pp.  68-70. 

1 87 1.  J.  Earle,  Philology  of  the  English  Tongue,  §58.  Ox- 
ford. 

1872.  R.  Morris,  An  Old  English  Miscellany,  E.  E.  T.  S. 
Pub.  no.  49,  pp.  x-xi. 


1 86  115tbltograp^ 

1877.  B.  ten  Brink,  Geschichte  der  Englischen  Litter atur,  1. 
pp.  268-73.    Berlin. 

1879.  J.  Koch,  Chardry's  Josaphaz,  Set  Dormanz,  und  Petit 
Plet,  pp.  vi-xi ;  xlvi.    Heilbronn. 

1883.  B.  ten  Brink,  Early  English  Literature,  trans.  byH.  M. 
Kennedy,  pp.  214-18.    London. 

1888.    H.  Morley,  English    Writers,  3.  pp.  33 1—3 3.    London. 

189O.  C.  L.  Kingsford,  Dictionary  of  National  Biography, 
article  Guildford,  Nicholas  de. 

1892.  A.  Brandl,  Paul's  Grundriss  der  Germanischen  Philolo- 
gie,  2.  §  19,  p.  622. 

1895.  W.  J.  Courthope,  History  of  English  Poetry,  I.  pp. 
131-36.    London. 

1905-  G.  Korting,  Grundriss  der  Geschichte  der  Englischen  Lit- 
teratur,  4th  edit.  §  77.   Miinster. 


dSloftsart 


This  glossary  is  cut  down  from  a  complete  glossary  and  gram- 
matical and  etymological  index  to  all  occurrences  of  all  forms  in  both 
MSS.  On  the  limiting  of  citations  and  of  etymological  matter,  see 
Preface.  As  this  series  of  texts  is  intended  for  reading  as  literature, 
all  the  forms  of  only  MS.  Cott.  are  given.  The  forms  of  MS.  Jes. 
Coll.  are  given  only  where  the  sense  differs  from  that  of  MS.  Cott. 
A  form  quoted  is  to  be  repeated  until  another  is  given.  Frequently 
forms  at  one  time  divided  in  a  MS.  and  so  printed  in  the  text  with 
hyphens,  and  at  another  time  not  divided,  are  quoted  only  as  they 
appear  first.  The  order  of  the  words  is  strictly  alphabetical ;  but  P  fol- 
lows T,  and  3  precedes  T.  Medially  p  follows  tg,  and  $  is  with  g 
after  h.  Wen  of  MS.  Cott.  is  printed  iv.  The  poem  is  taken  as 
too  early  for  lengthening  of  vowels  in  open  syllables,  and  /'  before 
ng  is  counted  short.  Abbreviations  are  as  in  common  use.  When 
the  designations  of  mood  and  tense  are  omitted,  supply  u  indie, 
pres."  if  no  other  designation  has  just  preceded;  when  of  mood 
only,  supply  u  indie."  if  no  other  designation  has  just  preceded. 


a,  art.  a:  see  an,  and  Note 

37- 

a,  a,  prep,  in,  20,  115  etc. : 
on,  134:  at,  323:  at,  by, 
89,  219  etc.:  see  an,  and 
Note  37. 

abak,  adv.  back,  back- 
wards, 824,  877. 

abide,  inf.  (see  Note  1 2 1 5), 


bear,  endure,  1 2 1 5  etc. ; 
abid,  3s.  1778:  remain, 
abide,  opt.  pi.  1389  (see 
Note):  abide,  stay,  abid, 
3s.  466;  inf.  J  1437  : 
aivait,  abide]?,  pi.  1702  : 
waited,  abod,  abot,  pt.  s. 
41,  1 1 75:  stop,  abid, 
imp.  s.  747,  837,  845. 
abisemar,  abisemere,  see 
Notes  148,  1309. 


^iossars 


abi-spel,  see  bi-spel. 
abiten,  inf.  bite  to  death,  77. 
abod,  see  abide. 
abo$te,  pt.  pi.  atoned  for, 

1060. 
abrad,    pt.    s.     broadened, 

dilated,  1044. 
abrode,  on  brood,  5 1 8  (O.  E. 

on  -\-  brod). 
abute,  adv.  about,  around, 

16,  645. 

ac,  ah,  conj.  but,  S3,  11 83 
etc. 

a-coled,   pp.  gro-ivn    cold, 

205. 
a-corde,  sb.  accord,  d.  181. 
a-cursi,  inf.  curse,  1704. 
a-cwalde,  pp.  killed,  1370. 

ad,  see  Note  325. 
a-dai,  see  dai. 

ad  el,  adj.  addled,  133. 
a-dijte,  is.  order,  arrange, 

326. 
a-drede,  inf.  dread,  fear, 

1266,     1484  j      opt.    s. 

1487. 
a-dun,  adune,  adv.  donvn, 

beloiv,  208,  920,  1454. 
a-diinest,  2s.  dinnest,  337. 
adwole,  see  Note  1777. 
a-fere,    inf.    terrify,     221: 

a-ferd,   afraid,   pp.  410, 

472.    See  oferen. 
a-foled,  pp.  befooled,  206. 


a-fonge,  inf.  receive,  1196. 

after,  prep,  after,  140  etc. : 
in  search  of,  1709:  ac- 
cording to,  see  Note  650: 
after  >an,  accordingly,  see 
Note  1578. 

a-}af,  pt.  s.  uttered,  139. 

a^ein,  adv.  opposite,  1788: 
again,  back,  ajen,  454, 
818,  J  ayeyn  1700. 

ajen,  prep,  against,  opposed 
to,  676-78  etc.:  in  expec- 
tation of,  in  anticipation 

of  43 6>  ll5l-  a^n  >et» 
against  that,  at  or  near 
the  time  ivhen,  499. 

a-^eines,  prep,  against,  con- 
trary to,  1 371. 

a-^ere,  see  }er. 

aginne,  inf.  begin,  proceed, 
1289. 

a-gon,inf.  pass  away,  355 
etc.;a-go,  pp.  507,  508; 
a-ge>,  3s.  1453. 

agriille,  inf.  disturb,  har- 
ass, 1 1 1  o. 

a^te,  see  aht. 

ah,  3s.  ought,  1 47 1. 

ah,  see  ac. 

ahene,  adj.  <nvn,  1286, 
1542. 

aht,  adj.  valiant,  ^worthy, 
1479,  1481,  1500;  a$te, 
pi.  385,  389. 


<0lo$0air 


189 


ahwenejj,  pi.  trouble,  1564; 
is.    a-wene,  1258. 

aishest,  aisheist,  see  as- 
kedest. 

aij?er,  pron.  either  of  two, 
n.  7. 

aiware,  adv.  everywhere, 
216  (O.  E.    ag-hvjar). 

akursedest,  pt.  didst  curse, 
1 1 84. 

al,  adj.  all:  oblique  cases, 
alle;  exc.  gpl.  aire  852. 
—  Pron.  al,  pi.  alle,  exc. 
al78,  1 1 74.  —  Adv.  gpl. 
alere,  aire  in  comps.  with 
superlatives,  of  all,  very, 
684,  687  etc.:  adv.  al, 
usually  with  so,  quite, 
just,  see  also;  quite  215, 
488. 

alamed,  pp.  lamed,  crushed, 
1604. 

aide,  see  old. 

alegge,  inf.  confute,  394. 

al-mijti,  adj.  Almighty, 
1173. 

al5j>,  prep,  and  adj.  in  hate- 
ful, base,  115. 

al6j>ej>,  3  s.  becomes  hateful, 
1277. 

also,  adv.  just  as  if,  146; 
just  so,  237;  just  as, 
1 01 2;  also,  in  like  man- 
ner, 443,  508:  see  al. 


al-swa,  adv.  also,  1663, 
al-s w5  891;  alswa,  just 
so,  1329,  1373. 

aluue,  prep,  and  sb.  to,  into 
love,  141 7. 

amanset,  pp.  accursed, 
1307. 

amidde,  adv.  by,  at  the 
middle,  124,  643. 

amis,  adv.  amiss,  1365, 
1434,  1540. 

among,  prep,  among,  amid, 
506  etc. :  her-among, 
in  this,  744;  bar-am 5ng, 
among,  of  them,  497:  — 
adv.  at  intervals,  6, 
J  81. 

amorce,  see  mor^e. 

an,  prep,  (see  Note  37),  in, 
54  (see  Note)  etc. :  among, 
905  etc.:  at,  323:  into, 
467,  1 651:  upon,  1246. 

an,  art.  (see  Note  37),  a, 
an,  4  etc.  5  ane  dm.  1 02 1 : 
—  num.  am.  anne,  794 
etc. :  —  pron.  am.  anne, 
802,  eine  (O.  E.  anne), 

759- 
an,    conj.   and\    see    Note 

1195. 
an,  is.  grant,  allovu,  1739. 
andsware,  sb.  ansvoer,  a. 

639,  657,  andsuare  149, 

and-swere      665,      and- 


190 


^lostfarp 


suere  705,  ansuare  487, 

551,  ansvere  470,  an- 
sware  55,  n.  3995  an- 
swere,  a.  1710. 

an-honge,  pp.  hanged-,  see 

Note  1 1 95. 
an-ho6,  pi.  suspend,  1646, 

J  1612. 
a-ni3t,  see  nijt. 
anon,    an-6n,    adv.    anon, 

488,  522,  1554. 
ansuare,     ansuere,     an- 

sware,  see  andsware. 
ansuare,  imp.   s.  answer, 

555- 
ape,  sb.  ape,  n.  1325. 
appel,  sb.  apple,  n.  135. 
ar,    conj.    with    opt.    ere, 

552,  692,  etc. ;  ear  1216} 
her,  J  1225  :  —  adv. 
before,  previously,  ear 
1560,  1 6  37  j  er  866, 
1 144,  1432. 

a-redde,  opt.  s.  may  free, 
1569. 

are},  adj.  cowardly,  407: 
areu,  base,  1498.  Cf. 
Note  190. 

are^e,  arehj?e,  sb.  cow- 
ardice, fear,  d.  404, 
1 71 6.    Cf.  Note  190. 

areme,  see  arme:  Note 
190. 

ari^t,  ariht,  adv.    aright, 


400,     904    etc. :     arijte, 

prep,  with  adj.  at  in  the 

proper,  323,  arihte  1428. 
arise,  inf.  rise,   327;  arist, 

3s.    1394,    13975    arise>, 

pi.  731. 
arme,  areme,  adj.  pi.  poor, 

miserable,  537,  11 62. 
art,  artu,  2s.  art,  art  thou, 

38,  61,  541  etc. 
a-schewele,    is.    frighten 

away,  1 6 1 3 :  see  shueles. 
askedest,     pt.     2s.     didst 

ask,  1 3 1  o  5  aishest,  aishe- 

ist,  2S.  473,  995. 
asnowe,  see  snou. 
aspille,  inf.  spoil,  ruin,n%. 
a-storue,    pp.    starved    to 

death,  slain,  J  1200:  see 

Note. 
aswinde,  inf.  vanish,  1 574: 

enervated,    pp.    adj.    as- 

wunde      1480,      a-svnde 

534- 

at,  prep,  at,  86,  293  etc.; 
in,  at,  607,  608,  615; 
of,  1 8 1 ;  to,  1 2 1 1 :  at  5ne, 
at  one,  together,  785:  ate, 
atte,  at  the,  592  (see 
Note),  151  3. 

at-broide,  pp.  stolen  unlaw- 
fully, 1380. 

ateliche,  adj.  hideous, 
1125. 


^lostfat^ 


191 


at-fllj>,     3  s.     flees     away, 

37- 

aj»ele,  sb.  high-born,  npl. 
632. 

at-holde,  inf.  hold,  con- 
sider, 695,  1420;  at- 
hold,  pt.  s.  392. 

at-prenche,  inf.  248,  814: 
see  Note  248. 

at-rute,  inf.  flee,  escape, 
1 168:  cp.  M.  H.  G. 
riuten,  ruten,  *  root,  root 
out' j  cf.  Brad.  Strat. 
Diet.,  Matzner  Wb. 

at-schet,  pt.  s.  shot  away, 
44}  at-schote,  pp.  1623. 

at-stonde,  inf.  withstand, 
750. 

atte,  see  at. 

atter-coppe,  sb.  spiders, 
dpi.  600. 

at-tom,  at  home,  1527. 

at-wende,  inf.  escape,  turn 
away,  1427. 

at-wite,  inf.  twit,  censure 
for,  1234;  2s.  at-uitest 
597,  at-uitestu  751,  at- 
wist  1332,  attwltestu 
1 1 87;  at-wlten  pp.  935. 

aualle,  mi.  fall,  fall  down, 
1685. 

auele,  see  fele. 

auinde,  inf.  learn,  experi- 
ence, 527,  856. 


auorj?,  adv.  forth,  forward, 

824. 
a-uoj?,  pi.  receive,  843. 
a-wai,  a-wei,  adv.  away, 

250,  33  etc.:  awai-ward, 

away,  376. 
a-wedej?,  pi.  rage,  become 

mad,  509. 
a-wene,  prep,   with    d.   in 

thought,  239,  awene  682. 
a-wene,  see  ahwenejj. 
awer,      adv.       anywhere, 

1342. 
awille,  see  wille. 
a-wreke,  opt.  pi.   avenge, 

15625  pp.  262,  1 105. 
a-wro)?eJ?,      3  s.       becomes 

wroth,  1278. 
ax,  sb.  axe,  a..  658. 
axest,  axestu,   2s.  askest 

{thou),  707,  711. 
ayeyn,  adv.,  prep.,    J,  see 

a^ein,  a}en. 

B 

baldeliche,     adv.      boldly, 

1707. 
bale,  sb.  affliction,  n.  687, 

699. 
banne,  sb.    troop    called  to 

war,  d.  390. 
bare,  adj.  bare,  mere,  547, 

571 :  as  sb.  the  open,  56^ 

150. 


192 


aiossan? 


bare},  sb.  barrow  pig:  see 

Notes  408,  190. 
barme,    sb.    bosom,   midst, 

J  390:  see  Note, 
bataile,  sb.  battle,  a.  1197. 
be,  see  beon. 
beche,  sb.  see  Note  14. 
bedde,  sb.  bed,   couch,   d. 

967,  1047,  1492  etc. 
bedde,    1500,    J  968,    see 

ibedde. 
bede,  pt.  2s.  askedst,  550  ; 

opt.  pt.  s.  1678. 
bed-time,  sb.   bed-time,  n. 

324. 
beire,  num.  of  both,  g.  1584. 
belde,  see  bold, 
bende,  sb.  bonds,  apl.  1428. 
beod,    3s.  bids,   commands, 

1437. 

beon,  inf.  be,  932  etc. ;  opt. 
pi.  1 22 1  ;  beo,  inf.  n  94 
etc.;  opt.  s.  1225,  1233, 
1242,  1267  etc.;  opt.  pi. 
1582;  imp.  s.  1638;  be, 
inf.  1 151,  1768;  bon,  inf. 
262  etc.  ;  opt.  pi.  452, 
740,  883  ;  am,  is.  170 
etc.  ;  art,  artu,  2s.  38, 
541  etc.;  is,  3s.  34  etc.; 
beoh,  beoft,  pi.  911,  1338 
etc.;  imp.  pi.  1735;  bob, 
pi.  75  etc. 

bere,  sb.  behavior,  d.  925. 


bere,  inf.  bear,  carry,  J 
1022;  is.  1599,  1701  ; 
bereft,  pi.  1372;  ber)>, 
3s*  775>  shows  403. 

berne,  sb.  barn,  d.  607. 

berne,  inf.  burn  up,  1203. 

berste,  opt.  pi.  may  burst, 
990. 

be-seo,  opt.  s.  ha<ve  a  care 
^for,  1272. 

best,  sb.  animal,  99. 

best,  adv.  best,  470. 

bet,  adv.  better,  rather,  21, 
23,  39  etc. 

bete,  inf.  make  amends, 
865. 

betere,  adj.  comp.  better, 
712,  713,  808  etc. 

bi,  prep,  by,  near,  along, 
278,  304  etc.;  by,  366, 
143 1-2  etc.;  by,  at,  241, 
365,  372  etc.  ;  at,  109; 
through,  because  of,  723, 
1463—5  ;  concerning,  46, 
793,  835;  with  respect 
to,  92,  93,  129,  245, 
428,  1243,  1361-73:  see 
Note  815-8. 

bi-chermet,  pi.  scream  at, 
279. 

bi-clop,  pp.  clasped,  em- 
braced: see  Note  1048. 

bi-cloped,  pp.  made  accu- 
sation, uttered  thy  plaint, 


<£io£$an? 


J93 


550:  see  O.  E.  be-cleopod, 
Bosw. 

bi-cumej?,  3s.  is  fitting, 
271  :  —  happened,  bi- 
com,  pt.  s.  105:  —  ar- 
rived, bi-c5me,  pt.  pi. 
1 79 1  (see  Note):  come, 
bi-cume,  pp.  137. 

bidde,  inf.  pray  for,  beseech, 
858  ;  is.  1568  }  bidden, 
pi.  886  ;  bid,  3s.  441, 
1437,  bit  445,  1352  :  — 
bid,  bidde,  is.  741  (see 
Note),  929,  1221,  1253. 

bi-^ete,  inf.  obtain,  attain, 
1629  j  opt.  s.  726. 

biginne,  is.  begin,  1456; 
bi-gon,  pt.  s.  13. 

bi-grede,  inf.  cry  out  at, 
141 3  ;  opt.  pi.  304;  bi- 
gredeb,  pi.  279,  bi-gredet 
67  j  bi-gradde,  pt.  pi. 
1 144. 

bi-growe,  pp.  gronun  over, 
27,  617. 

bi-haitest,  see  Note  1322. 

bi-halde,  see  biholde. 

bi-hede,  inf.  prevent,  635: 
—  bi-hedde,  guarded,  pt. 
s.  102:  cared  for,  pro- 
tected, pp.  1048. 

bi-hemmen,  inf.  hide  with 
seemly  exterior  :  see  Note 
672. 


bihinde,  prep,  behind,  594 
etc.:  —  adv.  528,  666: 
—  sb.  hinder  parts,  apl. 

596- 
bihSlde,    inf.    behold,    look 

upon,    71  j   bi-holde,    is. 

1566  ;      bi-halde,       inf. 

1325  ;  bihold,  pt.  s.   30, 

108. 
bi-hote,  pp.  promised,  1745. 
bihouhte,  J  199:  see  Note. 
bile,  sb.    beak,   n.    79  $  a. 

269,  1675. 
bi-leaue,  inf.  remain,  1688. 
bileck,  see  bi-lujj. 
bi-ledet,    pi.    pursue,    ill- 
treat,  68 :  cp.  O.  E.  Misc. 

PP-  83,45. 

bi-legge,  inf.  hide  the  true 
nature  of,  gloze,  672  j 
bileist,  2S.  839:  —  inter- 
pret, bilegge,  inf.  904. 

bileue,  inf.  keep  silent,  42: 
remain,  464. 

biliked,  pp.  made  pleasing, 
842. 

bi-luj?,  3s.  locks  up,  1 55 7 j 
bileck,  pt.  s.  1081. 

bi-neo3e,  prep,  beneath, 
912. 

binimejj,  3s.  takes  away, 
941 5  bi-nume,  pp.  1226. 

bi-reued,  pp.  bereft,  120. 

bischopen,  sb.  bishops,  dpi. 


i94 


6ios#an? 


1 761:  dpi.  -n,  cp. 
screwen. 

bi-schriche}?,  pi.  screech  at, 
67:  see  schrichest. 

bi-sehj?,  3  s.  pursues,  be- 
seeches, 1439. 

bisemed,  pp.  made  seemly, 
plausible,  842. 

bi-side,  adv.  beside,  25. 

bisne,  adj.  purblind,  97, 
243. 

bi-speke,  opt.  s.  may  talk 
against,  1 5  6 1 :  —  prom- 
ised, pp.   1738. 

bi-spel,  sb.  parable,  fable, 
127:  cp.  Note  148. 

bi-stal,  pt.  s.  stole  avoay, 
.  J  1432. 

bi-stant,  3s.  stands  around, 
takes  trouble  for,  1438. 

bistarte,  3s.  leaps,  tum- 
bles about,  J  1438  :  see 
Note. 

bi-swike,  inf.  betray,  de- 
ceive, 158;  opt.  pi.  930. 

bit,  see  bidde. 

bitelle,  mi.  justify,  263. 

bi-J?enche,  inf.  bethink, 
471,  828;  opt.  s.  871; 
bi-bohte,  bi-bojte,  pt.  s. 
199,  704,  939: — think 
upon,  ponder,  bi->enchest, 
2s.  1505  j  bi)>enc)>,  3s. 
1509. 


bitide,  opt.  s.  may  happen, 

52 j  bitidde,  pt.  s.  1107. 
bi-ti^t,  pp.  covered,  clothed: 

see  Note  1013. 
bito3e,  pp.  employed,  702. 
bi-tuxen,  bitweone,  prep. 

between,  1379,  1747. 
bi-uore,  prep,  before,  776: 

—  adv.  1235. 
bi-wepe,   inf.   voeep   over, 

for,  9805  bi-wepen,  opt. 

pi.  974. 
bi-werest,    2s.    protectest, 

1126,  1517. 
bi-wro,  inf.  conceal,  673. 
bled,  sb.  blade,  blossom,  n. 

1042. 
blenche,     inf.      avoid    by 

shrinking,  170,  1231. 
blenches,  sb.    tricks,    apl. 

378. 
bleo,  bio,   sb.    complexion, 

appearance,      d.      1547, 

152,  441. 
bles,  see  Note  748. 
blete,  adj.  vcretched,  hence 

bare,  exposed,  616:  —  as 

sb.  bare,  57. 
blind,  adj.  blind,  243,1237. 
blis,  sb.  joy,  joyousness,  n. 

1280;  blisse,  n.  420,  422, 

728    etc.;   a.    433,    710, 

1103;  d.  717. 
blisse,    opt.    s.   rejoice,  be 


&lo8#arp 


195 


glad,  478;  blissej?  hit,  3  s. 

435- 
blij>e,    adj.    blithe,    joyful, 

418,    992-94;       comp. 

bllhir,  1 108. 
bio,  see  bleo. 
blod,   sb.    blood,    n.    1127; 

a.    945    etc.;    blode,     d. 

i35°- 

blostme,  blosme,  sb.  blos- 
soms, npl.  437,  16. 

blSwe,  inf.  bloiv,  blossom, 
1133,  1201;  pp.  adj. 
1636;  iblowe,  pp.  618. 

bo,  see  beon. 

bo,  num.  both,  n.  990;  d. 
J381. 

boc,  sb.  book,  a.  1325; 
bokes,  g.  1208;  boke, 
dpi.  350. 

bode,  see  Note  530. 

bodest,  2s.  announce,  pro- 
phesy, 1 1 52,  1 1 57,  1 1 60, 
bodes  1 155  (see  Note 
81);  bodeb,  3s.  1 170. 

bodi,  sb.  body,  n.  73. 

b5}e,  sb.  bough,  d.  15; 
dpi.  616,  816;  bo  we,  d. 
125,  1244;  bos,  apl.  242. 

boke,  see  boc. 

bold,  adj.  bold,  strong,  317, 
405  ;  bolde,  af.  410  ; 
belde,  apl.   171 5. 

boldeliche,  adv.  boldly,  40 1 . 


bon,  see  beon. 
bon,  sb.  bones,  apl.  1120. 
b5nde-man,  sb.  holder  un- 
der tenure  of  bondage,   n. 

1577- 
bor,  sb.  beer,  a.  1011. 
borde,   sb.   table,    d.    479, 

1492,  1579. 
bore,    sb.    boar,     d.    408, 

1021. 
bos,  see  bo^e  :  Note  242. 
bote,  sb.  alleviation,  help, 

n.    688,    700;    g.    (with 

bidde)  858. 
bote,  prep,  except,  884. 
b5j>,  see  beon. 
boJ>e,  num.  both,  n.  1681, 

d.  C  381. 
b5j>e,  conj.   cor.   with  and, 

an,  both,  50,  225  etc. 
b5we,  see  b5}e. 
bredde,  pt.  s.  bred,  101. 
brede,  sb.    roast  flesh,    a. 

1630. 
brede,  sb.  breadth,  d.  174. 
brede,  see  Note  965. 
breist,  see  Note  1633. 
breke,    inf.    break,    1080, 

i3  34>  1693;  i-broke,  pp. 

J  1558. 
breme,   adj.    spirited,  pas- 
sionate, 202,  500. 
brej>,  sb.  breath,  n.    1454, 

1461;  a.  948. 


196 


tf5los#ar£ 


brid,  young  bird,  a.  124 
(see  Note);  briddes,  npl. 
654,  1 102;  apl.  106, 
1628;  dpi.  107,  626; 
bridde,  dpi.  in,  644, 
apl.  123  (see  Note  767). 

bridel,  sb.  bridle,  n.  1028. 

bri;t,  adj.  bright,  clear, 
623;  bri^te,  240,  250, 
1 6 8 1 :  comp.  brijter,  152: 
—  adv.  brihte,  1245, 
1656. 

bringe,  inf.  bring,  710 
etc.;  is.  433;  bringb, 
bring,  3s.  1534,  1447; 
brojte,  brohte,  pt.  s.  107, 
1726;  ibrojt,   ibroht,  pp. 

545,  J559- 

brod,  sb.  brood,  a.  1633; 
br5de,  d.  93,  130,  1386. 

brSde,  adj.  broad,  75. 

bro3te,  brohte,  see  bringe. 

broiden,  pp.  braided,  wov- 
en, 645. 

brost,  sb.  breasts,  apl.  978. 

broker,  sb.  brother,  n.  118. 

briine,  sb.  burning,  a.  1 1 55. 

Due,  sb.  belly,  body,  n.  1 1 32, 
1494. 

biidel,  sb.  herald,  beadle, 
n.  1169. 

biiggen,  biigge,  inf.  buy, 
procure,  1368,  1506. 

bur,  sb.   dwelling,  bower, 


n.  958;  bikes,  g.  652; 
apl.  1045;  bure,  d.  937— 
57  etc.;  dpi.  649. 

bur},  sb.  city,  a.  766. 

biirne,  sb.  brook,  burn,  d. 
918. 

bute,  prep,  without,  183, 
1386,  1530,  1790:  prep, 
adv.  except,  600;  with 
ne,  except,  1290,  1622; 
but,  only,  794,  811,  831, 
948,  1290,  1461,  1622, 
1760,  but  799: — adv. 
but,  only,  756. 

bute,  conj.  but,  833:  un- 
less, 1289,  1  3  o  1 :  except 
that,  558,  560,  566:  ex- 
cept,  574,663,709, 1322, 
1452. 

buue,  prep,  above,  1346, 
1494: — adv.  above, 
208,  high,  1052. 

byete,  J  1629:  seebi-^ete. 

byndej?,  pi.  bind,  J  1472; 
ibunde,  pp.  held,  656, 
*354- 


can,  con,  kan,  kon,  is. 
know)  how,  can,  170, 
263  etc.;  3s.  197,  798, 
695  etc.;  canst,  const, 
2s.  972,  904  etc.;  cunne, 
opt.   s.   47,    48;    kunne, 


45lo0*arg 


197 


pi.   1552;    opt.    s.    188; 

cube,  ku>e,  pt.  s.    171 7, 

714:  —  kno<zv,     can,     is. 

1209  etc.;  3s.  can,  con, 

lean,  249   etc.;   con,    is. 

1207  etc.,  3s.  1238  etc.; 

kan,  is.    757  etc.  ;  kon, 

is.  708  etc.,  3s,  774etc. ; 

canst,     2s.     560    etc., 

canstu   i32i;kunne,   pi. 

911;   opt.  is.   811,  813; 

cu>e,  pt.  pi.  1305;  ku)?e, 

pt.  s.  697;  pt.  s.  knenvto 

do,  663. 
cartare,  sb.  carter,n.  1 1 86. 
castel,  sb.  castle,  a.    175, 

766. 
cat,  sb.   cat,   n.    831,    kat 

810. 
certes,  adv.  certainly,  1 769. 
chan,    is.   can,    1793:   see 

can. 
changling,    sb.    jangling, 

contention,      n.     J     296  ; 

d.     J    284:     cp.     O.    E. 

Misc.  p.  213,  1.  84. 
chapmon,  sb.  merchant,  n. 

1575- 
chatere,  sb.   chattering,  d. 

284. 
chaterest,    2s.    chatterest, 

322. 
chaterestre,     sb.    female 

chatterer:  see  Note  655. 


chatering,   sb.   chattering, 

n.   576,  chateringe  744; 

d.  560. 
chauling,   sb.   scolding,   n. 

296;  d.  284:   cp.  O.  E. 

ceafi ;  J.    Wright,    Dial. 

Diet.    s.    v.    chaavl,    <  to 

chew,  munch,  repeat  over 

and  over  again.1 
cheorles,    sb.    churl's,    g. 

1494,    chorles     512; 

churls,  npl.  509,  632. 
cheose,  inf.  choose,  1343. 
cherde,pt.  pi.  turned,  1658. 
cheste,  sb.  strife,  n.  296  ; 

d.    183,    1043;    a.    177, 

1 160. 
chide,  inf.  chide,    contend, 

287,    297   etc.;    opt.    s. 

291;     chid,     3s.     1533; 

chlst,  2s.  1 331;   chidde, 

pt.  s.  112. 
child,    sb.    child,   n.    13 15 

(see    Note),    1463    etc.; 

chllde,    d.    782;   childre, 

dpi.    145 3>    J776i    chil- 
dren, npl.  631,  1 1 15. 
chinne,  sb.  chin,  d.  96. 
chirche,  sb.  church,  d.  608 

etc. ;    g.    in    compounds, 

727     etc.,      see    second 

members, 
chirme,  sb.  uproar,  crying, 

d.  305. 


198 


d5los#arp 


chist,  see  chide, 
chokeringe,  sb.  a  broken, 

choked  sound,  d.  see  Note 

504:  cf.  J.  Wright,  Dial. 

Diet.  s.  v.  chokkered. 
chorles,  see  cheorles. 
clackest,     as.     makest     a 

clacking:  see  Note  81. 
clansi,  inf.  cleanse,  610. 
clawe,     sb.     claws,     apl. 

153- 
clawe,  opt.  s.  claw,  scratch, 

154. 
cleine,  see  clene. 
clenche,  see  Note  1206. 
clene,  adj.  clean,  584,  590, 

627,  cleine  302. 
clen-nesse,   sb.    cleanness, 

purity,  d.  491. 
cleope)?,  3s.  calls,  13 15. 
clerkes,  sb.  clerk's,  g.  1 328 ; 

clerks,  npl.  722,  729. 
climbe,  inf.  climb,  833. 
clinge,  inf.  shrink,  dry  up, 

743;  opt.  s.  1619. 
cliure,   sb.  claws,  dpi.  78, 

cliures  84,  1701 ;   cliures, 

apl.    1676,   cliuers    155, 

270. 
cloJ»,  sb.  cloth,  garment,  a. 

1 1 74  ;  clobe,  dpi.  1530; 

sheet,  d.   1359. 
clowe,  sb.  ball,  bundle,  n. 

578. 


eludes,  sb.  rocks,  hills,  npl. 
1 001. 

clute,  sb.  clods,  dpi.  11 67: 
parallel  form  of  clot ;  cp. 
M.  L.  G.  klut,  Du.  kluit. 

cniht,  sb.  military  re- 
tainer, knight,  n.  1575; 
knijt,  n.  1087,  1100;  a. 
10935  knijtes,  apl.   768. 

coc,  sb.  cock,  n.  1679. 

codde,  sb.  outer  covering, 
d.  1 1 24. 

cogge,  sb.  cog,  d.  J  86. 

col-blake,  adj.  coal-black, 

75- 
c51d,  adj.  cold,  622. 
com,    come,    comen,    see 

cumen. 
con,  see  can. 
copenere,     sb.    lover,    a. 

1342. 
corn,   sb.    grain,    seed,    a. 

1126}  comes,  npl.  1202. 
coue,  adv.  swiftly,  379. 
cradele,  sb.  cradle,  d.  631. 
craft,     sb.     craft,     talent, 

power:     a.    757,    794} 

crafte,      d.     787,     7915 

craftes,   npl.    (cf.  bb\>)  or 

part.   g.    568;  apl.    8075 

dpi.  711. 
crei,  sb.  crying,  n.  335. 
crempe,  inf.  hold  in,  check, 

1788:  cf.  N.  E.  Diet. 


^lostfarp 


i99 


Cristes,  sb.  Chris  fs,  g. 
609  etc.;   Cristis,  1568. 

Cristes-masse,  sb.  Christ- 
mas,  d.  481. 

croked,  pp.  adj.  crooked, 
80,  icroked  1676. 

crope,  inf.  creep,  819; 
cropb,  3s.  826. 

crowe,  sb.  crow,  n.  11 30; 
npl.  126,  304;  apl.  1613. 

Crowe}?,  3  s.  crows,  resounds 
harshly,  335. 

cualm,  see  cwalm. 

cumen,  inf.  come,  1 1 3 1 ; 
cume,  is.  435;  cumest, 
908,  585;cume>,  come)', 
302,  1437  etc.;  cume)?, 
pi.  523;  comen,  opt.  pt. 
pi.  1014;  come,  comen, 
inf.  611,  11 99;  is.  1211J 
come,  pt.  pi.  1 67 1  etc.; 
pt.  2S.  1058;  opt.  pt.  s. 
1300  etc.;  com,  pt.  s. 
132  etc.;  kume,  inf.  821 
etc. ;  see  Note  1 3 1 8  ;  ku- 
men,  inf.  1190;  kumeji, 
3s.  1462,  kumed  683 
etc. ;  cumynde,  pr.  part. 
J,  see  Note  1220. 

cunde,  sb.  nature,  kind,  d. 
88;  nature,  d.  273,  276. 

cundut,  sb.  (Fr.  conduit, 
condui),  '  a  kind  of  mo- 
tet, sacred  musical  com- 


position, sung  while  the 
priest  was  proceeding  to 
the  altar,1  Godefroy,  a. 
483. 

cunne,  see  can. 

ciinne,  sb.  kind,  nature,  d. 
271;  kind,  gpl.  20:  — 
kin,  d.  1775. 

custe,  sb.  character,  qual- 
ity, dpi.  9  :  —  manner, 
see  Note  115:  —  choice, 
character,  d.   1398. 

ciip,  3  s.  makes  known, 
shows,  132,  138;  ciibest, 
2s.  90. 

cuj?e,  see  can. 

cuup,  adj.  known,  922. 

cwalm,  sb.  violent  death, 
pestilence,  n.  1 1 9  9 ;  cualm, 
a.  1 157;  J  qualm  1199, 
1157. 

cwaj?,  pt.  s.  quoth,  said, 
1729,  1751  etc.,  quab 
117,  187  etc. ,  quad  117; 
J  queb,  quab,  regularly. 

cwesse,  inf.  destroy,  crush, 
1388. 

D 

dahet,  sb.  misfortune,  99 
habbe  (O.  Fr.  dehait 
ait):  —  interj.  evil  be- 
fall, 1 1 69 :  —  bat,  evil 
befall  him  who,  1 5  6 1 . 


200 


0los#arE 


dai,  sb.  day,  n.  259  etc.;  a. 
336  etc.;  d.  with  a,  £v 
day,  89  etc.;  day,  daie, 
d.  103,  241  etc.;  daies, 
g.  1 431;  adv.  g.  £v<%, 
1590. 

dai-li}t,  sb.  daylight,  n. 
332. 

dai-rira,  sb.  day-break,  the 
first  streak  of  da-asn,  a.. 
328. 

dai-sterre,  sb.  morning- 
star,  a.  328. 

dale,  sb.  dale,  'valley,  d.  1. 

dar,  3s.  dares,  1  no,  1 131- 
35  etc.;  darst,  2s.  853, 
1695;  dart,  see  Note 
1 106;  durre,  opt.  s.  1706. 

dare,  see  Note  384. 

day,  see  dai. 

day-rewe,  sb.  the  first 
streak  of  day,  danvn,  a. 
J  328:  cp.  O.  E.  Misc. 
P-  163,  1.  17. 

dead,  see  ded. 

deale,  inf.  deal  out,  ex- 
change, 954. 

dea)?e,  sb.  death,  d.  161 7; 
deabes,  adv.  g.  in  death, 
dead,  1632,  1634;  de>, 
n.   1620;  a.  1196. 

ded,  adj.  dead,  n 38,  n  51, 
1732;  dead  161 9. 

dede,  sb.  deed,  z.  513,  708; 


ds.   or  dpi.    232,    1580J 

dpi.  1376,  1763. 
del,  sb.  part,  n.    1027:  — 

time,  a.  939:  see  sum-del. 
deme,  sb.  judge,  d.  1783. 
derae,      inf.    judge,      188, 

1747;  opt.  s.    201,  210; 

denied,   3  s.    1755;  dem>, 

pi.  1777. 
deouel,  sb.  de--vil,  n.  141 2; 

deoulene,   gpl.    932   (see 

Note), 
derne,  adv.  secretly,  1357: 

—  sb.  the  dark,  d.  608. 
dernllche,     adv.     secretly, 

1423. 
de)>,  see  dea)>e. 
diche,  sb.  ditch,  d.  1239. 
di^ele,  adj.  secluded,  2. 
diht,    3s.   prepares,    1756: 

dihte,  made  ready,  pt.  3  s. 

1655:     arranged,    i-di$t, 

pp.  641:  formed,   i-diht, 

pp.   1547. 
dim,  adj.   dim,  dark,  369, 

577- 

disputinge,  sb.  contention, 
d.  875. 

dom,  sb.  judgment,  verdict: 
n.  1780  ;  a.  210,  1061, 
1692  etc.;  dome,  d.  179, 
193,  289  etc.,  see  Note 
546  ;  domes,  see  Note 
1695. 


^lostfarp 


201 


don,  inf.  do,  perform,  159 
etc.;  do,  inf.  603  etc.; 
is.  298  etc. ;  opt.  s.  1092, 
pi.  1781,  1010;  dest,  2s. 
321  etc.,  dost,  237  etc., 
dostu  218;  deb,  3  s.  564 
etc.,  doh,  156  (see  Note 
528)  etc.  ;  pi.  95  etc.  5 
di'ide,  pt.  s.  1 01 6  etc.; 
i-don,  pp.  115  etc.,  i-do 
113  etc. :  —  cause,  bring 
about,  do,  inf.  548,  1364, 
1483;  imp.  s.  1788  ; 
dest,  2s.  49;  deb,  3s.  783, 
1 71 6;  dob,  3s.  490;  pi. 
1734: — put,  do,  imp.  s. 
807;  dob,  pi.  1 1 18:  put 
upon,  dude,  pt.  s.   1089. 

dor,  sb.  animal,  <voild  ani- 
mal, n.  493,  1323;  npl. 
10 1 2,  1200;  dore,  ixiild 
creatures,  birds,  dpi. 
1126. 

Dor-sete,  Dorset,  d.  1753. 

dra^e,  is.  reflex,  approach, 
970;  drajst,  2s.  589:  — 
lead,  dra^st,  2s.  895  ; 
dra3eb,  draheb,  3s.  1434, 
1399:  —  drag,  pull,  drajb, 
3s.  776;  i-dra^e,  pp.  586: 
—  apply,  drahe,  inf.  1375; 
dra^e,  is.  reflex.  273. 

drede,  sb.  dread,  d.  684. 

dreme,    sb.    joyful    sound, 


music,  d.  314;  dreim,  n. 

21. 
drenche,      inf.     cause     to 

drown,  1205. 
drinkej?,  pi.  drink,  1009- 
driue,  inf.  incite,  1475:  — 

drive,  pursue,  driueb,  pi. 

66,  809. 
drunnesse,sb.  drunkenness, 

d.   1399. 
dude,  see  don. 
du3e}>e,sb.  manhood,  d.634. 
dumb,  adj.  dumb,  416. 
dune,    sb.    down,  hill,   d. 

832;  a.  919. 
diintes,    sb.     blows,    npl. 

1227. 
dure,  sb.  doors,  dpi.  778. 
diirre,  see  dar. 
diisi,  ad),  foolish,  1466. 
dweole,  sb.  error,  a.  1239: 

—  trickery,  deceit,  g.  926; 

cunning,  dwole,  d.  825. 

E 

e,  pron.  he:  see  Note  1474. 

ear,  see  ar. 

earding-st5we,  sb.  dwell- 
ing-place, n.  28. 

earen,  sb.  ears,  apl.  338. 

east,  adv.  east,  923. 

eauar,  eauer,  eauere, 
eauer-euch,  etc.,  see 
ever. 


202 


0iostfari? 


ech,  conj.  also,  174. 

ech,  adj.    each,    every,    n. 

J»5i    434,     477,     1027  ; 

eche,  d.  195,  800  etc. 
eche,  adj.  everlasting,  742, 

1279. 
efne,  adv.  evenly,  313. 
eft,  adv.  again,  aftervcards, 

818,  821,  1063  etc. 
e^e,  sb.   eye,   d.   426  ;  npl. 

990  j  dpi.  381;  apl.  144; 

ejen,     dpi.      3  64 ;     apl. 

10445  ejene,  npl.  75. 
ei^te,  sb.  property,  g.  1153. 
eine,  see  an. 
eiber,    adj.  either,  887:  — 

_  pron.  9,  185,  796. 
ei-wat,    pron.    eachsoever, 

everything -.see  Note  1056. 
ek,  eke,  conj.  also,  69,  93, 

438  etc. 
ek,  adj.  each,  1592. 
elles,  pron.  else,  662,  1010: 

—  adv.  1 196;  elles  h war, 

elsewhere,  932. 
ende,  sb.  edge  of  a  piece  of 

land,    or   land  itself,    d. 

1 1  32:  see  Note  1785. 
endi,  is.  end,  1456;  endeft, 

3s.  943. 
ene,  enes,  adv.  once,  1107, 

1049. 
engeles,   sb.    angels,    npl. 

916. 


Engelonde,  sb.  England,  d. 

749- 

eni,  adj.  any,  557,  708, 
720,  1 01 5  etc. 

eorne,  inf.  run,  1204;  eor- 
ne)*, pi.  J  375:  O.  E. 
eornan. 

er,  ere,  see  ar:  erur,  cbmp. 
formerly,  1738:  erest, 
snp.frst,  525,  683, 1 122. 

erde,  sb.  dvcelling-place, 
d.  460. 

erede,  pt.  s.  made  ready, 
took  counsel,  1295:  O.  E. 
arTedan. 

ereming,  sb.  miserable  be- 
ing, voc.  mi. 

erende,  sb.  errand,  busi- 
ness, n.  463. 

erien,  inf.  plovu,  1039. 

erne,  inf.  cause  to  run,  1204: 
O.  E.  rennan,  arnan. 

este,  adj.  pleasant,  999, 
1031: — sb.  pleasure,  d. 
3535  a-  1504-06. 

ete,  inf.  eat,  108;  is.  598; 
etestu,  2s.  599;  ete>,  pi. 
1007. 

eu,  see  ow. 

euch,  adj.  each,  975,  1224; 
vich,  1378,  J  1608. 

eve,  sb.  eve,  evening,  n. 
41;  eue,  n.  1687;  d.  323, 
332>  432- 


€>lo0$ari? 


203 


euening,  sb.  evening,  a. 
772. 

ever,  euer,  evere,  evre, 
eure,  eauar,  eauer, 
eauere,  adv.  ever,  al- 
iv  ay  s  :  —  compounded 
with  euch,  adj.  every ; 
eurich,  evrich,  194,  229, 
*>!*>  34i5  351,  355,422, 
719:  pron.  eurich,  each, 
494:  —  euer  mo,  ever- 
more, constantly,  238. 

ey,  sb.  egg,  a.  io4i  eye,  d. 
1335  eyre,  dpi.  106. 


fair,    adj.  fair,    579;  faire 

439,441  etc.;  fayre  182; 

vair  584;  vaire  1 5 :  comp. 

uairur,  152:  —  adv.  faire, 

fairly,   excellently,    924, 

1556. 
fair-hede,    sb.    beauty,    d. 

581. 
fale,  see  fele. 
falewi,  sb.  yellovu-red,   n. 

456. 
falle,  inf.  befall,  630  :  fall, 

inf.      956,      1457;      pp. 

1233  ;  fallest,  2s.   1286; 

falle>,     falj>,    3s.     1240, 

1424,  1454;  i-fallen,  pp. 

514. 


fals,  adj.  false,  unfair,  210. 
fait,  3s.  stammers,  falters, 

fare,  inf.  fare,  go,  658,  909 
etc.;  is.  454,  457,  460 
etc.;  opt.  pi.  552;  fare>, 
3s.  1437,  1584;  pl-  386J 
imp.  pl.  1736;  uare,  inf. 
640;  i-fare,  pp.  1709:  — 
happens,  is,  fare>,  far}?, 
3s.  1243,245:  —  behav- 
est,  farest,  2s.  421,  520, 
917;  for,  pt.  s.  1474. 

faste,adv.  fast,  firmly,  796: 
comp.  uastre,  656. 

fast-rede,  adj.  of  fixed  pur- 
pose, 211. 

faucun,  sb.  falcon,  n.  in, 
123,  faukun,  101. 

fedest,  2s.  feedest,  94. 

felde,  sb.  field,  d.  17 14. 

fele,  adj.  proper,  estimable, 
1378  (O.  E.  fale). 

fele,  indecl.  neut.  with  g. 
many,  234,  797,  805  ; 
fale  628,  1371,  1722  ; 
feole  1214,  1772;  uale 
1663;  ueole  1274:  auele, 
in  many,  20;  auale  1767. 

felle,  inf.  fell,  cut  dovon, 
767. 

felle,  sb.  skin,  d.  1572, 
uelle  1  o  1 3 ;  uel,  a.  8  3  0-4. 

fenge,  sb.  grip,  d.  1285. 


204 


(glossary 


feole,  see  fele. 

feor,  adv.  far,  923,  1426, 
1657  j  for,  398,  710  j 
uor,  646,  653  :  comp. 
forre,  386. 

feorre,  adv.  from  afar, 
1322,  voire  327. 

ferde,  sb.  army,  a.  1668, 
1672,  1684 ;  uerde,  d. 
1790:  —  military  expedi- 
tion, ferde,  a.  1 1 5  6 . 

ferden,  pt.  pi.  fared,  nxent, 
1789. 

fere,  sb.  companion,  d.  223; 
npl.  932. 

fej?er,  sb.  feather,  n.  1688. 

fi^te,  inf.  fight,  667,  1069, 
1669,  1679,  ^96,  vi^te 
172  ;  vicst,  2s.  406  (see 
Note);  fijt,  3s.  176, 
1072,  1074;  uajt,  pt.  s. 
1071. 

631. e,  sb.  fighting,  strife,  d. 
183. 

f^tinge,  sb.  fighting,  strife, 
a.  1704. 

fins,  sb.  fish,  a.  1007. 

fihtlac,  sb.  fighting,  strife, 
a.   1699. 

finde,  inf.  find,  595,  601, 
1 1 12,  ulnde  470,  592, 
665;  uindestu  (fut.  idea), 
2S.  657  ;  ulnt,  3s.  696  ; 
ifunde,  pp.  15 15  etc. 


I  fitte,  sb.  equal,  n.  784: 
see  Note. 

flehs,  see  flesch. 

fleo,  inf.  flee,  123 1,  1304, 
1700,  flo,  406  ;  flijste, 
2s.  405  ;  flijt,  3s.  176: 
— fly,  fleo,  flo,  inf.  1229, 
442;  is.  957,  365,  372, 
390,  591;  imp.  s.  33; 
opt.  pi.  1673,  1230;  flijst, 
2s.  89  etc.;  flijt,  flij>, 
3s.  308,  506;  flon,  inf. 
150;  flo)>,  pi.  278. 

flesch,  sb.  flesh,  n.  1399, 
1408  ;  flehs,  a.  1007  ; 
flesches,  g.  1388-90—92— 
97,  1 41 0-14,  fleses  895; 
flesche,  d.  1387,  141 1, 
fleshe  83. 

flijst,  fli3t,  flo,  flon,  see 
fleo. 

flockes,  sb.  flocks,  npl. 
427;  apl.  280. 

flod,  sb.  flood,  n.  946. 

fl5h,  see  fiowe)). 

fiores,  sb.  floixers,  npl. 
1046. 

flowe}?,  3s.  flonvs,  946, 
noh  920. 

fnast,  sb.  breath,  n.  44. 

fo,  with  on,  opt.  pi.  begin, 
179. 

fode,  sb.  food,  d.  with 
prep.  94  ;  uode,  d.  606. 


€>los#arp 


205 


fo^e,  see  Note  184. 

fo^le,  see  fu^el. 

folc,  sb.  folk,  people,  a. 
1023. 

folde,  inf.  fold,  1326. 

fole,  see  ful. 

folji,  is.  (with  d.)  follonv, 
389;  foljeb,  3s.  307. 

foliot,  sb.  ?  trap,  tricky 
snare  (O.  Fr.  foliot,  at- 
trape,  piege,  Godefroy); 
? foolish  matter  (O.  Fr. 
folietey  Brad.  Strat.  Diet. 
N.  E.  Diet.)  868. 

fondi,  inf.  test,  seek,  strive 
toward  (with  g.),  1442  j 
vonde,  imp.  s.  1063  , 
fondeb,  3s.  i58i,fiinde)? 
719  ;  fundeb,  pi.  862, 
fundieb  850. 

for,  see  fare:  Note  1474. 

for,  J  1784,  see  fore. 

for,  prep,  because  of,  on  ac- 
count of,  3s.  1 6 1,  207, 
210,  414,  417,  419  etc. : 
for  the  sake  of,  962,  965: 
for,  as,  1283  :  with  inf. 
in  order  to,  540,  1766, 
for  to  1017,  1057  etc.: 
in  asseveration  749  ;  see 
Note  1572.  In  com- 
pounds :  because,  for-ban 
1396,  1661,  for-bon 
1 100;  for  ban  bat  780, 


for  bat  365  :  therefore, 
for-ban  1600:  because  of 
that,  for-be  69,  for-bi  409. 

for,  conj. for,  32,  147  etc.: 
because,  774,1248,  1261, 
1293. 

for,  adv.  see  feor. 

forbernest,  2s.  burnest  up, 

419- 
for-bode,  is.  forbid,  648. 
for-bonne,      inf.      banish, 

1093. 
for-breidej?,    pi.    pervert, 

corrupt,  1383;  for-brode, 

pp.  1381. 
for-deme,     inf.     condemn, 

1098. 
for-do,     pp.    ruined,    quite 

put  at  a  loss,  822. 
for-drue,  inf.  dry  up,  919. 
fore,    sb.    course,    a.    817; 

for,  a.  J  1474,  see  Note, 
fore-ward,  sb.   agreement, 

a.    16935   uorerward,    n. 

1689. 
for-hele,  inf.  conceal,  cover, 

79_8. 
for-leose,   opt.   s.   lose  en- 
tirely,   1344,    14855  for- 

leost,  for-lost,    2s.   1649, 

519,  897;  3s.  949,  1666, 

693>    8l7>  uor-lost  619; 

forles,   pt.   s.    iiooj  for' 

lore,  pp.  1  391. 


206 


«3lo00arE 


forlere,  opt.  s.  mislead  by 
teaching,  926. 

for-leten,  inf.  leave  off, 
abandon,  988,  forlete 
9665  is.  36;  opt.  s.  404, 
Ms.  J  926;  opt.  pi.  961; 
uor-lete>,  pi.  634. 

for-lore,  for-lost,  see  for- 
leose. 

forme,  adj.  former,  first, 
820. 

forre,  see  feor. 

forstes,  sb.  frosts,  apl.  524. 

fort,  conj.  until,  C  41, 
C  332;  fort  amorje,  until 
morning,  C432.  O.  E. 
for  to. 

for)?,  uorJ>,  adv.  forth,  528, 
297  etc. ;  forb  in  on,  forth 
in  one  strain,  continuously, 

356- 

forJ>ure,  adv.  corny. further, 
1606. 

for-wor J?e,  pp.  lost,  degener- 
ated, debased,  548  (see 
Note),  573,  575}  for- 
wurde,  1491. 

fox,  sb.  fox,  n.  812,  uox 
819,  8255  foxes,  apl.  809. 

frend,  sb.  see  frond. 

freo-man,  sb.  freeman,  n. 
1507. 

fro,  adj.  free,  well-born, 
131,  134. 


frogge,  sb.  frog,  n.  85,  see 

Note;  a.  146. 
from,  vram,  vrom,  urom, 

prey,  from,  62,  198,  163, 

197,  1 126  etc. 
fro  me,  see  frume. 
frond,  sb.  friends,  apl.  477, 

frend  J;  fr6ndes,/r;V»^v.f, 

g-  i1 54- 
frost,  3s.  freezes,  620. 
frouri,  is.  comfort,  535. 
frume,     sb.     beginning,    d. 

1 51 3;  frome,  d.  476. 
fuel-kiinne,  sb.  bird-kind, 

d.  65. 
fu^el,    sb.    bird,    n  35;    a. 

1097;    fujele,     dpi.     64, 

fojle2  77;  fugles,  g.  343; 

npl.   1 1 44;   fuheles,   npl. 

1660. 
ful,    adj.   foul,    612,    964, 

fule  1096,  87,  285  etc.  j 

fiilne,    am.     1196;    fole, 

an.  1045  wl,  a.  236;  wle, 

d.     35:  —  adv.    wl,    see 

Note    8 :  —  sb.   fule,   d. 

301. 
ful,   adj.    full,    247,    360; 

fulle,  d.  314:  —  ful,  adv. 

full,  very,  471,704,  810, 

1189,  1292. 
fiilejj,  3  s.  makes  foul,    100  ; 

pi.       96  ;       i-fuled,    pp. 


tiiowm 


207 


fu!iche,adv./«//y,  128}  ful- 

liche,  1687. 
fiilied,  3s.  follows,  1239. 
fiilste,  is.  help,  889. 
fundej?,  fundiej?,  see  fondi. 
f iist,  sb.  fist,  a.  1538. 


gabbinge,  sb.  falsehood,  a. 
626. 

gale  gale,  sb.  chatterbox, 
n.  256. 

Gala-weie,  sb.  Galnjoay, 
d.  910. 

game,  sb.  sport,  pleasure, 
play,  a.  16495  gome,  n. 
1443;  a.  521:  game,  a. 
1666. 

gan,  inf.  go,  proceed,  15 10, 
g5n  214,  669,  go  1431, 
653)  gest,  2s.  875,  1651; 
ge>,  3s.  528,  1462,  je> 
1602,  gol>  522,  gengj> 
376j  go\>,  pi.  305,  588, 
1013  etc.,  go-S  938, 
god  647;  go,  opt.  s.  see 
Note  1285;  opt.  pi.  745j 
imp.  s.  297: — gon  to, 
proceed,  inf.  669 ;  gest 
al  to,  proceedest  'wholly, 
838. 

geltis,  adj.  jealous,  1077. 

genge,  adj.  customary,  usu- 


al, 1002:  —  successful, 

804,  1065. 
gengjj,  see  gan. 
gente,  adj.  gentle,  204. 
gideliche,    adv.   foolishly, 

1282. 
gidie,  sb.  foolish,  d.  291. 
ginne,  sb.  ingenuity,  d.  6695 

a.  765. 
ginne)?,  pi.  begin,  437,  722, 

1700. 
glad,     adj.   glad,    s.    434, 

1278,    15115    glade,   pi. 

424,  45 1 :  comp.  gladur, 

s.  19,  gladdere  pi.  737. 
gleu,   adj.   njuise,    prudent, 

193. 
go,  see  gan. 
god,  gode,  adj.  good,  800, 

307  etc. 
god,  sb.  good,  n.   565;  a. 

329  etc.;  godes,  g.  563 

(see  Note);  gode,  d.  246 

(see  Note)  etc. 
God,  sb.  God,  n.  867,  1 173, 

Godd   1543;    Godes,  g. 

357,  36l>  855>  1256. 
Godd-spel,    sb.  Gospel,    n. 

1270  ;     Godd-spelle,     d. 

1209. 
godhede,    sb.  goodness,  a. 

351;    god-ede,    n.    582, 

see  Note. 
gold,  sb.  gold,  n.  1366. 


208 


6lo0$an? 


golfinc,    sb.   goldfinch,     n. 

1 1 30:  see  Note  1315. 
gol-nesse,  sb.  lust,  d.  492, 

899,  1400,  golnesse  498. 
gome,  see  game, 
gon,  see  gan. 
gore,   sb.    triangular  piece 

set  in  a  garment  \  gown, 

by  synecdoche,  d.  515. 
gost,   sb.  ghost,   spirit,   n. 

1 40 1,    1408;   gostes,    g. 

1398:  —  being,  gost,  voc. 

11 11. 
gradde,  see  grede. 
grame,  sb.  anger,  harm,  a. 

49,  1076,  14845  grome, 

d.  1090,  1284. 
granti,     is.    grant,     201, 

graunti  745. 
gras,  sb.  grass,  n.  1042. 
grede,    inf.    cry   out,    308, 

975  etc.;  is.  474,  1220, 

1252  etc.;  opt.  s.    1683 

(see  Note),    1698;  gred, 

3s.  1533,  1665;  gredest, 

2s.  5  6 6 ;  grede>,  pi.  1671; 

gradde,   pt.   s.    936  ;   pt. 

pi.  1662;  igrad, pp.  1 149. 
greie,  adj.  gray,  834. 
grene,  adj.  green,  18,  617, 

623,  pi.  456. 
gret,     grete,     adj.    great, 

large,    1488,    318,   1227 

etc. :  comp.  grettere,  74. 


grimliche,     adv.     cruelly, 

1332. 
grine,  sb.  snare,  d.  1059  ; 

grinew,  pi.  see  Note  1056. 
grislich,  adj.  horrible,  224, 

312,  315,  1003. 
grijj,  sb.  peace,  security,  a. 

1005,  1369. 
gri)?-briiche,  sb.  breach  of 

peace,  a.  1734- 
grom,    adj.    angry,  fierce, 

992. 
grome,  see  grame. 
gromes,  sb.  boys,  npl.  1 1 1 5, 

1645. 
groni,  opt.  s.  groan,   872, 

874. 
grope)?,  3s.  handles,  1496. 
groue,  sb.  grove,  d.  380. 
gr5we,  inf.    grow,    11 34, 

1202;  pt.  pi.  136. 
grucching,  sb.  grumbling, 

n.  423. 
grulde,   opt.   pt.    s.    ivere 

making  to  vibrate,  twang- 
ing: see  Note  142. 
grunde,     sb.    ground,    d. 

278,  560,  801. 
guld,   see   giilt. 
Gulde-forde,  sb.  Guildford, 

d.    191. 
giilt,  sb.   guilt,   n.    1410; 

guld,  a.  1427  j  giilte,  d. 

874. 


<8\osmty 


209 


giilte,  3s.  commits  sin,-  see 
Note  1523. 

H 

habbe,  inf.  have,  258  etc.  5 
is.  174  etc.  j  opt.  s.  99 
etc.  j  habbej>,pl.  1 1 97  etc., 
habe>  1611$  haue>,  3  s. 
301  etc.,  haued  1 19,  167, 
hauet  113;  hauest,  2s. 
153  etc.,  hauestu  1668; 
hadde,  pt.  s.  1083,  216 
etc.;  pt.  pi.  1103;  opt. 
pt.  s.  146,  pi.  1008. 

hacche,  sb.  trap,  d.  1058: 
see  Note. 

ha^e,  sb.  hedges,  dpi.  585, 
hahe,  1612. 

ha^el,  sb.  hail,  n.  1002. 

ha^te,  pt.  s.  hatched,  105. 

hahe,  see  ha^e. 

halde,  inf.  hold,  keep,  1 369; 
holde,  inf.  3,  141 9  etc. ; 
pt.  pi.  12;  opt.  s.  59;  opt. 
pt.  s.  51  ;  holdest,  2S. 
15 17;  hald,  3s.  see  Note 
1576,  halt  356  ;  h5ld, 
pt.  s.  144:  —  consider, 
regard  as,  halt,  3s.  32; 
iholde,  pp.  1723. 

hale,  sb.  corner,  secret  place, 
d.  2. 

halt,  see  halde. 

halter,  sb.  halter,  n.  1028. 


halue,  sb.  side,  d.  109,  887. 

ham,  sb.  home,  adv.  a.  1 5  3 1 , 
horn,  457,  460,  1534;  a. 
1751. 

hard,  adj.  se<vere,  harsh, 
hard,  1694,  harde  530, 
602,  706:  —  as  sb.  harde, 
severe  season,  459,  527: 
difficult,  703. 

hardeliche,  adv.  hardily, 
bravely,  402. 

hare,  sb.  hare,  n.  373, 
383. 

harm,  sb.  harm,  n.  1254, 
17335  a-  I2355  harem, 
n.  1260;  hareme,  d.  1161 
(see  Note  190). 

harpe,  sb.  harp,  n.  343; 
d.  22,  24;  a.  142. 

hartu,  see  art. 

hatiet,  3s.  hates,  230. 

hattest,  2s.  art  called,  255. 

hauec,  sb.  hawk,  n.  307, 
haueck  303;  hauekes,  g. 
271. 

haued,  hauet,  hauej?, 
hauest,  see  habbe. 

he,  pron.  he,  132  etc.:  it 
(m.  sb.)  21,22,  23,  336, 
346,  347,  i3°°;  (f-  sb.) 
1 381:  she  (see  Note  19) 
141,  396,4oi,  469,936, 
953,  ^09,  1560,  1638. 

heare,  see  here. 


210 


6los#ar£ 


he^e,  adv.  high,  989;  heie 
1646:  on  heh,  on  hey, 
on  high,  1456,  1405: 
comp.  herre,  1637:  sup. 
hecst,  with  aire,  687, 
699. 

hegge,  sb.  hedge,  enclo- 
sure, d.  17,  59;  dpi.  587; 
heie,  d.  819. 

hei-sugge,  sb.  hedge-spar- 
ronv,  n.  505. 

helle,  sb.  hell,  d.  1014. 

helpe,  v.  with  d.  (see  Note 
484),  help,  inf.  664  (see 
Note  606)  etc.;  is.  484, 
606  etc. ;  helpb,  impers. 
3s.  171. 

heme,  sb.  man,  head  of  a 
house,  n.  1 1 1 5  :  see  Note. 

hen,  sb.  hen,  n.  413. 

Henri,  sb.  Henry,  n.  1091: 
see  Note. 

heo,  ho,  pron.  she  (see  Note 

i9)»  n-  934,  1^95,  J9> 
33,  1602  etc.;  it  (f.  sb.), 
n.  948,  950,  318,  342; 
it  (m.  sb.),  n.  1374,  ?  he 
107;  her,  herself,  a.  939, 
her  1530;  it,  a.  1232; 
hire,  her,  d.  148,  395 
etc. ;  reflex,  d.  1297  ;  d. 
for  a.  704,  1 08 1  etc.; 
poss.  hire,  her,  26,  43, 
44  etc.,   hure   1599  ;  its 


(f.  sb.)  949: — heo,  ho, 
npl.  they,  929-31,  66, 
76  etc.  ;  heo,  apl.  926, 
1258  ;  heom,  hom,  dpi. 
960,  1254,  62,  288  etc.; 
d.  for  apl.  them,  them- 
selves, 930,  1253,  1517, 
1764,  see  Note  125. 

heom,  see  heo. 

heonne,  adv.  hence,  1673  ; 
honne  66,  850  etc. 

heore,  pron.  poss.  their, 
1612,  1775-7,  i792  J 
hore,  280,  305,  330  etc.; 
here,  739,  938,  978. 

heorte,  horte,  sb.  heart, 
mind,  n.  1565,  37  etc.  ; 
a.  947,  674  etc.  ;  horte, 
g.  945;  d.  676,  678,686 
etc. 

heouene,  sb.  heaven,  d. 
916;  houene,  d.  897,  728: 
in  compounds  717  etc. 

hepe,  sb.  heap:  dpi.  bi  hepe, 
to  ov  erf  owing,  360. 

her,  adv.  here,  462  etc.; 
here  931:  her-bl,  hereby, 
127;  through  this,  1 49  7 : 
her-of,  herefrom,  from 
this,  1076  ;  concerning 
this  875,  1563  :  herto, 
hereto,  to  this,  487,  665 
etc. :  her-uore,  because  of 
this,  1 165. 


6io$#ar£ 


211 


her,  J  1225,  see  ar. 
herde,  pt.  s.  heard,  293. 
herdes,  sb.  shepherds,  npl. 

286. 
here,    sb.    hair,    d.    428  5 

heare,  dpi.   1550. 
here,   sb.    army,    host,    d. 

1709,  17905  a.  1702. 
here,  see  heore. 
here,  931,  see  her. 
herest,  2s.  praisest,  151 8. 
her-gonge,  sb.  march  of  an 

army,  d.  1191. 
heriinge,  sb.  praise,  glorifi- 
cation, n.  981. 
her-of,  see  her. 
herre,  see  he^e. 
herst,  see  Note  970. 
her-to,  her-uore,  see  her. 
hete,  sb.  hate,  a.  167. 
heued,    sb.   head,   n.    74 ; 

a.  119. 
heueryche,    J     717:     see 

houene. 
hexste,  see  Note  970. 
hey,  see  he3e. 
hi,  pron.  she,  n.  185;  her,  a. 

*9>  3°>  32>  Jo85,  herself 

1995  d.    1053$  they,  npl. 

1  o,  1 2,  9  5  etc. ;  them,  apl. 

10  8, 449  etc.,  reflex.  1257  j 

apl.  these  [truths'],  951. 
hider,  adv.  hither,  462  etc.  5 

hider-ward,  1690. 


hi^te,  is.  am  glad,  rejoice 
(with me)  532;  hijte)>,  3s. 
436. 

hi^te,  sb.  joy,  n.  2725  a. 
1103. 

him,  pron.  him,  d.  305,  306, 
302  etc.}  to  him,  194, 
203  etc.  5  for  him,  122, 
466,  1090} at  him,  1173J 
with  him,  1 2  7 1 ;  for  him- 
self, 14845  see  Note  211; 
d.  for  a.  (see  Note  125) 
304,  1098}  dpi.  for  apl. 
308. 

him-ward,  with  to,  toward 
him,  375. 

hine,  see  Note  11 15. 

hine,  pron.  him,  am.  236, 
himself  471  etc.  j  it 
(m.  sb.)  680,  1374-5. 

hire,  see  heo. 

his,  pron.  poss.  his,  294, 
308  etc.}  its,  100,  232 
etc. 

his,  1498,  1761,  see  is. 

hit,  pron.  it,  n.  28  etc.  j 
a.  92  etc.,  reflex.  435  } 
impers.    41,    105,    271, 

332>  5*7,  525>  6*o. 
h5,  see  heo. 
ho^e,  sb.   thought,   care,  a. 

701. 
ho^ej?,  3s.  is  reflecting,  455. 
hoj-fule,  adj.  full  of  care, 


212 


<3\os$m 


anxiety,  537  ;  hoh-ful 
12925  how-ful  1295. 

hoke)>,  3s.  goes  tortuously, 
377:  —  hooked,  hoked, 
pp.  adj.  79,  ihoked  1675. 

holde,  see  halde. 

hole,  sb.  hole,  den,  d.  826. 

hole,  see  Note  965. 

hoi},  adj.  hollow,  643, 
1113. 

holl,   adj.  holy,  721,  1382. 

holi-nesse,  sb.  holiness,  n. 
900. 

horn,  horn,  see  ham,  heo. 

honde,  sb.  hand,  d.  1372, 
1402  (see Note)}  a.  17575 
apl.  1 65 1. 

hongej?,  pi.  hang,  suspend, 
161253s.  hob  1 1 2  3  5  hong, 
imp.  s.  6585  ihonge,  pp. 
1 1  36. 

hongi,  inf.  hang,  be  sus- 
pended, see  Note  8155 
hongest,  2s.  11 42;  hon- 
gej>,  3s.  1 1 32,  1485. 

honne,  see  heonne. 

hord,  sb.  hoard,  a.  467, 
1224. 

hore,  see  heore. 

home,  sb.  horn,  d.  318. 

hors,  sb.  horse,  n.  629, 
773;  horsse,  d.  768; 
horse,  dpi.  1062. 

horte,  see  heorte. 


hose,    adj.    harsh,    hoarse, 

504. 
hot,    3  s.    bids,    commands, 

779- 
h5t,  hote,  adj.   hot,    117$, 

1454. 
hoten,  inf.  be  called,  256. 
hoJ»,  see  honge}\ 
hou,  sb.  hue,  color,  a.  619; 

howe,  d.  152,  577. 
houd-siJ?e,  h5u)>-si)>e,    sb. 

outgoing,     departure 

(Strat.),  1586:  cf.  O.  E. 

ut-sip,  and  Note  582. 
houene,  see  heouene. 
houen-kinge,   houene- 

lijte,    houene-riche,  see 

kinge,  li}t,  riche. 
houentinge,  see  Note  1 00 1 . 
houle,  see  tile, 
howe,  see  hou. 
howelynge,   sb.   howling, 

J  40:  see  Note. 
how-ful,  see  ho^-fule. 
hti,  adv.  honv,  46,  263  etc. 
htide,  sb.  hide,  skin,  a.  1 1 14. 
hiide,  inf.  hide,  11 13;   is. 

265;  hud,  imp.  s.   164. 
htiing,  sb.   see  MSS.   Var. 

1264.    Brad.  Strat.  Diet. 

1  <  O.  Fr.  huer,  "to  cry 

out".'     Rather,    hooing, 

nvhooing,  imitative  of  the 

owl's  cry. 


<$ios&ar£ 


213 


hule,  see  ule. 

hund,  sb.  hound,  n.  8175 
hunde,  d.  8145  hundes, 
g.  822;  npl.  375,  809. 

hundred,  num.  hundred,  a. 

HOI. 

hunger,     sb.     hunger,     d. 

1191. 
hunke,    see   unker:    Note 

1733- 
hup}?,    3  s.     bounds,     leaps, 

379;  hupte,  hopped,  pt.  s. 

1636. 
hure,  pron.  of  us,  g.  185. 
hure,  see  heo. 
hure  and  hure,  adv.  at  all 

events,   in   any  case,   es- 
pecially, 1 1,  481. 
hure,  see  Note  1483. 
hiirne,  sb.  corner,  nook,  d. 

14. 
hus,     sb.    house,    n.     6235 

huses,  g.  11555  npl.  1203; 

huse,    d.   479,    609  ;    a. 

15285  dpi.  1333. 
hwan,  see  hw5. 
hwan,   adv.    when,    1264, 

1470;     hwanne,     1244, 

1 251  etc. ;  hwon,  1566. 
hwar,  adv.   where,    1727: 

hwaruore,    wherefore, 

why,  1 42 1 :  see  elles. 
hwat,   pron.   inter.   what, 

n.   1433,    1441;  a.  1296 


etc.;  wat,  a.  185,  563, 
1025  etc. ;  what,  a.  60, 
484;  vor  wan,  d.  that  for 
which,  453  ;  to  wan, 
hwan,  d.  to,  for  what  end, 
good,  716,  1621,  1633. 

hwat,  interj.  what!  1730, 
17515  wat  635,  1075, 
1298. 

hwa)?er,  pron.  inter,  which 
of  two,  n.  1 198,  wa^er 
a.  1064;  ware,  n.  151  (see 
Note),  wej>er  991,  hweber 
1408. 

hwaj?er,  conj.  correl.  with 
he,  whether .  .  .  or,  1362, 
we)?er,  824,  1360. 

hwi,  adv.  why,  909  etc.; 
wi,  218,  268  etc.;  whl 
150. 

hwile,  sb.  while,  space  of 
time,  n.  1591;  a.  1425, 
1 451;  wile,  a.  6,  199, 
1020,    1  141 ;  d.    1458. 

hwit,  adj.  white,  1276. 

hwitestu,  see  wite. 

hw5,  pron.  inter,  who,  n. 
^95,  i5°5>  w*  1782, 
w5  113,  196,  528,  680; 
hwan,  d.  1509. 

hwon,  see  hwan. 

hwtich,  adj.  which,  nvhat, 
1504,  hwi'icche  936, 
wiicche,  see  Note  1319. 


214 


&los#arp 


hwiich,  pron.  inter,  what, 
n.  1443,  1674. 

I 

I,  pron.  I,  n.  293,  448  etc. 
i,  prep,  (see  Note     37)  in, 

1340,  1416. 
ibanned,    pp.     summoned, 

1668. 
ibedde,   sb.    bed-fellovj,  a. 

968,  1490,  1570;  bedde 

n.  1500,  a.  J  968. 
i-bere,    sb.     behavior,     n. 

1  348 ;  ibere,  a.  222. 
iblowe,  see  blowe. 
ibolwe,  pp.   swollen  voith 

vurath,  145. 
ibore,  pp.  born,  ji6. 
ibor^e,     pp.     saved,    pro- 
tected, 883. 
ibred,  pp.  bred,  1724. 
ibringe,  inf.   bring,    1539; 

opt.  s.  1 02 3 ;  ibrojt,  ibroht, 

PP-  545>  J559- 

ibroded,  pp.  extended, 
13  12. 

ibroht,  ibroht,  see  ibringe. 

i-broke,  J  1558,  see  breke. 

ibunde,  pp.  bound,  held, 
656,  1354. 

ich,  pron.  /,  n.   1,  3  etc. 

i-clupt,  pp.  clasped,  em- 
braced, J  104S. 

i-cnowe,    opt.    s.    know, 


cultivate  acquaintance 
of  477- 

icrSked,  see  croked. 

i-cumen,  pp.  come,  130; 
i-cume  138,  1225:  see 
cumen. 

i-ciinde,  sb.  nature,  n. 
i_i4;  ikiinde,  a.  1383. 

i-ciindeliche,  adv.  accord- 
ing to  nature,  1424. 

i-cundur,  adj.  comp.  more 
natural,  suitable,  85. 

i-cwede,  pp.  spoken,  1653. 

i-cweme,  inf.  please,  1784. 
,  idel,    with    on,    adv.    use- 
lessly, in  vain,  920. 
1  i-dijt,  i-diht,  see  dint. 

i-don,  i-do,  see  don. 

i-dorue,  pp.  made  to  suffer 

distress,  1 1 5  8. 
I  i-dra3e,  see  dra^e. 

idu^e,  adj.  profitable,  pleas- 
ing, 1582. 

ifallen,  see  falle. 

i-fare,  pp.  conveyed,  pre- 
sented :  see  Note  400. 

i-fare,  see  fare. 

i-foS,  pi.  take,  seize,  1645. 

i-fiiled,  see  fiilej>. 

ifiinde,  see  finde. 

i-furn,  adv.  of  yore,  long 
ago:  see  Note  1306. 

i-;iue,  see  }iue. 

igrad,  see  grede. 


6los#ar£ 


215 


igramed,  see  igremet. 
i-gprede,    sb.    clamor,    d. 

1643. 
igremet,  pp.  irritated,  en- 
raged,    933  j     i-gramed 

1603. 
i-hende,  adv.  at  hand,  near, 

1131,  1263. 
ihere,  inf.  hear,  224  etc., 

ihire  3i2;ihere>,  pi.  222; 

iherde,    pt.    s.    3,    1635, 

1657,1667;  iherd,  i-hert, 

pp.   1317,  1763. 
ihoded,  pp.  ordained,  1 1 77, 

1311. 
ihSked,  see  h5kej». 
ihold,  sb.  hold,  protection, 

a.  621. 
iholde,  see  holde. 
ihonge,  see  honge]?. 
i-hware,  adv.  everywhere, 

J  216  (O.  E.  gehvucer). 
i-kepjj,      3s.      observes, 

awaits,  1228. 
ikunde,  see    icunde. 
i-kiinne,  sb.  kinds,  J  1396: 

see  kiin. 
iladde,    pp.   led,    directed, 

398,  1294. 
ilast,  see  ileste. 
i-lefde,  pt.  s.  believed,  123. 
i-lere,      sb.    teaching,      n. 

J  1348;  see  Note. 
ileste,  inf.    last,   continue, 


341;  ilestej>,  3s.  347,  ilest 
851,  145 1,  ilast  1038. 

ilete,  sb.  face,  countenance, 
a.  1446:  appearance,  be- 
havior, demeanor,  d. 
1 71 5;  a.  403.  Cp.  lete; 
Icel.  lat. 

ilich,  prep,  like,  316,  318, 
319;  iliche  1460: — adj. 
i-llche,  the  same,  358-62 
—  adv.  i-liche,  in  the  same 
manner,  alike,  618,  718. 

ilike,  sb.  equals,  npl.  157. 

ilke,  adj.  same  (intensive 
with  dem.),  99,  742. 

ille,  adj.  evil,  ill,  1536:  as 
sb.  evil  man,  421. 

ilo^e,  pp.  lied,  847. 

Home,  adv.  often,  49  etc. ; 
I5me  1545:  sup.  ilomest, 

595- 
ilorned,  see  leorni. 

i\oue,sb.  beloved  ones,  1047: 

cp.  M.  H.  G.  gelieb. 
imeind,  see  meinj?. 
imene,    adj.    common,    234 

(see  Note),    628:  —  adv. 

commonly,  141 2. 
i-mene,  sb.  companionship, 

301. 
imist,  see  mist, 
imodi-nesse,    see    raodi- 

nesse. 
imiinde,  sb.  thought,  con- 


2l6 


aiostfars 


sideration,  d.  1516}  a. 
252. 

in,  prep,  with  d.  in,  1,  2 
etc. :  on,  upon,  103,  1123, 
1718:  at,  709:  z'»/0  (d. 
for  a.)  908:  —  with  a. 
into,  1 1 18,  1538:  in  on, 
see  on:  —  ine  with  d. 
in,  ivithin,  350,  438, 
916   etc.   (O.  E.  innan). 

inmeaj?e,  see  Note  16 18. 

in-noh,  see  inoh. 

innoj?,  see  Note  1318. 

i-n6}e,  adj.  enough,  <very 
many,  16. 

inoh,  adv.  enough,  suf- 
ficiently, 1 1 8  2,  1208  etc. ; 
innoh  1220. 

in-sijt,  sb.  insight,  intelli- 
gence, a.  195,  in-sihte 
1187. 

in-to,  prep,  into,  150,  996 
etc. 

inume,  see  nimen. 

ipeint,  pp.  painted,  76. 

i-quej»e,  inf.  speak,  say, 
502:  see  Note. 

Ire,  sb.  iron,  d.  1030:  see 
Note. 

iredi,  adj.  ready,  488. 

Irish,  adj.  Irish,  322. 

Ir-londe,  sb.  Ireland,  d. 
907. 

is,  3s.  is,  34,  73  etc. 


is,  pron.Aa,  403,  515,571, 

1483. 
i-schend,  see  schende. 
i-schire,  inf.   speak,  1532: 

O.    E.    sciran,     intrans. 

speak. 
i-schud,  pp.  clothed,  1529: 

O.  E.  gescryded. 
iseche,    inf.    seek,    attain, 

741. 
iseid,  pp.   said,  1037,  ised 

395- 
iseo,  inf.  see,   771,    1268, 

ison   383    etc.,    iso    366 

etc.}  iseo,  is.  1235  etc., 

iso  327  etc.;  iseo,  opt.  s. 

1 241     etc.;     i-sihst,    2s. 

1225  etc.;   islj>,  3s.  407, 

isoj?    424,    i-sejb     1465; 

isej,  pt.  s.  29  etc.;  iseje, 

opt.   pt.   s.    425;   i-sene, 

pp.  166  etc. 
i-shilde,  inf.  protect,  781. 
i-shote,  pp.  shot,  1121:  — 

poured,  23. 
isihst,  isij?,  see  isSo. 
i-slaie,    pp.  put  to  death, 

1 142. 
islide,  pp.  slipped,  glided, 

686. 
i-sliked,  pp.  adj.  made  sleek, 

deceitful,  841. 
isSrae,     adj.    friendly,    at 

peace,  1735,  ysome  *8o. 


$los#ari? 


217 


ison,  is5)>,  see  iseo. 

isowe,  see  s6we. 

i-speke,  see  speken. 

i-spild,  pp.  spoiled,  ruined, 
1027. 

i-sprunge,  pp.  sprung, 
spread,  300. 

i-srud,  J  1 529 :  see i-schiid. 

isunde,  adj.  sound,  happy, 
1 102. 

i-suol^e,  pp.  swallowed, 
146. 

iswike,  opt.  pi.  cease,  de- 
sist, 929. 

it,  pron.  it,  n.  118,  1090: 
see  hit. 

itache,  is.  point  out,  teach, 

1347- 
iteid,  pp.  tied,  778. 
i-J?enche,     opt.     s.     think, 

consider,  723;  i-J>oht,  pp. 

1560. 
i-]?runge,  pp.  pressed  close, 

38. 
i-tide,    inf.    betide,    befall, 

17335  opt.  s.  12165  itid, 

hit,  3s.   1256,   1 52 1  etc. 
ito^en,    pp.     brought     up, 

1725. 
itrede,  pp.  trodden  {passed 

through,  had  what  thou 

desirest),  501:  see  Note. 
iued,  pp.  fed,  1529.^ 
iui,  sb.  i<vy,  d.  27,  617. 


iuo,  inf.  catch,  612,   1628. 

iuo,  sb.  foe,  a.  1716. 

i-war,  adj.  aware,  147: 
wary,  cautious,  iwarre, 
see  Note  1221. 

i-warnesse,  sb.  wariness, 
d.  1228. 

i-weld,  sb.  power,  hence 
responsibility,  a.  15435 
nah  i-weld,  is  not  to 
blame  :  cf.  O.  E.  ge- 
weald,  Icel.  <valda,  <vald, 
Cleas.  Vig.  Diet. 

i-wend,  see  wenden. 

i-wende,  sb.  contrivances, 
dpi.  651. 

i-winne,  inf.  win,  conquer, 
766,  1290. 

i-wis,  adv.  indeed%  cer- 
tainly, 35,  118  etc. 

i-wit,  sb.  understanding, 
intelligence,  a.  774,  1188$ 
i-witte,  d.  121 7. 

i-wone,  sb.  custom,  475. 

i-worpe,  pp.  struck,  cast 
down,  1 1 2 1 . 

i-worJ?e,  pp.  become :  see 
Note  660. 

i-wrne,  pp.  run,  passed, 
come  down  (O.  E.  ge- 
urnen,  pp.  of yrnan),  6  3  7 : 
see  Note. 

i-wune,  see  Note  1318. 

i-wurj>,   3s.    becomes,  hap- 


218 


&\o$&nvv 


pens,  J   1256:  see  Note; 
wurj>. 


Jesus,  sb.  Jesus,  n.  1092. 


kan,  see  can. 

kanunes,  sb.  canons,  npl. 

729. 
kare,  sb.  anxiety,  a.  1590. 
kat,  see  cat. 
keie,  sb.  key,  d.  1557. 
kene,adj.  keen,  active,  bold, 

276,  526  etc. 
kepich,    is.   with  ne,  I  do 

not  care,  wish,  154. 
king,  sb.  king,  n.  235  etc.; 

d.    a.    1728;  kinges,   g. 

1095. 
knarres,  sb.   rocks,  crags, 

npl.  1 001:   see  Note. 
kni^t,  see  cni;t. 
kon,  see  can. 
kuke-weld,  sb.  cuckold,  a. 

1544. 
kume,    sb.    coming,    d.    a. 

436. 
kume,    kumen,    kume  J?, 

kumed,  see  cume. 
kun,  sb.  kin,  n.  714;  kiinne, 

d.     1099,    1674:    kinds, 

gpl.  888,  1396. 
kunne,  see  can. 


kun-rSde,  sb.   kindred,  d. 

1677. 
kursest,    2s.     dost    curse, 

1178. 
ku)?e,  see  can. 


la,  interj.  lo  !   1543. 

lacche,  inf.  seize,  1057. 

la^e,  adv.  low,  1456;  loje 
1052. 

la$e,  sb.  law,  custom,  n. 
969;  d.   1037;  a.  1061. 

lah-fulnesse,  sb.  lawful- 
ness, d.  1 741. 

lai,  see  ligge. 

lame,  adj.  lame,  weak, 
1732;  lome  364. 

lasse,  adj.  comp.  less,  1117, 
1410:  —  adv.  370:  —  as 
sb.  less,  lower,  482, 
1406. 

last,  3s.  lasts,  endures,  516, 
1466,  lest  1450,  JlesteJ>, 

333- 
lat,   3s.   lets,  permits,  250, 
308;  imp.    s.    258,    260 
etc.;  latej>,  imp.  pi.  1729, 

1735,  I737- 
late,  adv.  late,  1 147:  comp. 

later,  963,  see  Note  961. 
lauedi,  sb.  lady,  n.  959;  a. 

1569,   lefdl  1 05 1  j   laue- 

dies,  npl.  1338  etc. 


d5los#ars 


219 


lauerd,  sb.  lord,  lover,  n. 

959,    1479    etc.,    louerd 

968,  1055  etc.}  lauerdes, 

g.  1586,  louerdes  1589. 
lay,  see  ligge. 
leches,  sb.  actions,  features, 

npl.  1 1 40:  cf.  Matz.  s.v. 

lee  he;  O.  E.  lac. 
ledde,  see  ligge. 
lede,  inf.  lead,  16845  ledest, 

2s.  1672;  ledej?,  pi.  280. 
lefdi,  see  lauedi. 
legge,  inf.  lay,  place,  1224; 

opt.  s.  208;  leib,  3s.  801 

(see  Note);  leidest,  pt.  2s. 

104;    leide,    pt.   s.   467, 

ledde  1057. 
leie,  see  ligge. 
leng,    comp.    adv.    longer, 

42,  493  etc. 
lengjje,     sb.     length,     d. 

174. 
lenst,   2s.    lendest,   givest, 

756. 
leof,    adj.   dear,  desirable, 

1277,    1524;    lof   203, 

231,    281   etc.;   loue,  af. 

968;  l5ve,  apl.   1035. 
leof-mon,    sb.   lover,    dear 

one,  a.  1430. 
leorni,    is.    learn,    1212  ; 

lorni,  inf.    642;   ilorned, 

pp.  216. 
lepe,  sb.  basket,  d.  359. 


lere,  adj.  empty,   1528:  cf. 

Matz.  IVb.  s.  v.  laere. 
lere,  inf.  teach,  1017,  1050; 

is.  1347;  lerdest,  pt.  2s. 

lese,  adj.  loose,  disgrace- 
ful, 756. 

lesing,  sb.  falsehood,  n. 
848. 

lest,  see  last. 

lete,  is.  let,  permit,  1457; 
see  Note  177;  letej>,  pi. 
1699  j  let,  3s.  919  j  pt. 
s.  8,  lette  952:  —  aban- 
don, lete  inf.  1471  ;  pt. 
2s.  1308:  —  neglect,  let, 
3s.  1530;  lete>,  pi.  1 771: 
—  caused,\tt,\>t.s.  1093- 
97:  see  lat. 

lete,  sb.  cry,  noise  j  be- 
havior, d.  35:  cp.  ilete; 
Icel.  lat. 

leten,  inf.  hinder,  impede, 
1018: — prevent,  re- 
frain, lete,  1445. 

lete)?,    pi.    value,'  esteem, 

1774- 
le}>,  see  ligge. 
leue,  sb.  leave,  a.  457. 
leue,  sb.  leaves,  dpi.  4565 

leues,    npl.     1046;     apl. 

1326. 
libbe,  inf.  live,  1192;  opt. 

pi.  1006;  libbe>,  pi.  1  o  1 2 : 


220 


0io0$arE 


keeps  alive,  3  s.  llue>,  see 

Note  810. 
Hcome,  sb.  body,  d.  1054. 
liest,  see  lije. 
lif,  sb.   life,   n.    1127   etc.; 

a.     988     etc.;     Hue,     d. 

1078;  Hues,    adv.    g.    in 

life,  alive,  1632-34. 
Iif-da3e,  sb.   life,  life-days, 

dpi.  1 141. 
Ii3e,    inf.    tell  a  falsehood, 

853;    opt.    2s.    599   (see 

Note);    liest,     2s.     367, 

I335- 

ligge,  inf.  lie,  recline,  1200; 
opt.   s.  1 61 9;   ligge>,  pi. 

9595  I**  3S>  43°>  le> 
1494;  list,  2s.  1502;  lai, 
pt.  s.  1509;  lay,  pt.  s.  J 
1494,  leie,  opt.  pt.  s. 
134. 

Ii3t,  sb.  light,  n.  734^.230, 
liht  949  ;  lijte  d.  163, 
198  etc.,  lihte  1431. 

liht-lich,  adj.  easy,  11 85, 
lihtlich  1759:  —  adv.  lijt- 
liche,  lightly,  easily,  854; 
liht-liche,  lightly,  slightly, 

*774« 

liim,  sb.  bird-lime,  a.  1056. 
liki,  inf.  please,  342. 
lilie,  sb.  lily,  n.  439. 
lime,  sb.  limb,  a.  1098. 
linde,  sb.  linden,  d.  1750. 


linnene,  adj.  of  linen,  1174. 

list,  see  ligge. 

liste,  sb.  cunning,  g.  763; 
d.  172,  767;  a.  757. 

lij>,  see  ligge. 

litle,  adj.  little,    1776:  see 
.lutel. 

liuej),  see  libbe. 

lodlich,  adj.  loathsome,  32, 
71,  91. 

lof,  see  leof:  Notes  231,  609. 

lo^e,  see  l§3e. 

loke,  sb.  lock,  d.  1557. 

loki,  inf.  look,  see,  641  j 
loke>,  3s.  1555: — take 
heed,  loke,  imp.  s.  166, 
295: — protect,  loki,  inf. 
604;  opt.  s.   56. 

lome,  lome,  see  ilome, 
lame. 

lond,  sb.  land,  n.  999,  see 
Note  1  o  3 1  ;  londe,  d.  42  o 
etc.;  dpi.  996;  gpl.1371; 
upe  londe,  in  the  country, 
d.  733. 

lond-folc,  sb.  people  of  dis- 
trict, n.  1 1 58. 

long,  longe,  adj.  long,  344, 
857   etc.:  —  adv.    longe, 
45.  81,  253,  334  etc. 
.  longe  J?,  3  s.  impers.  ;'/  longs, 

yearns,  881:  see  Note. 
j  longinge,    sb.    longing,   d. 
869,  889. 


«5los#arp 


221 


lore,  sb.  learning,  d.  1208, 
13285  see  Note  1640:  — 
teaching,  a.  1  3  5 1 ,  1 47 1 . 

lorni,  see  leorni. 

losen,  inf.  lose,  351;  lost, 
3s.  830,  1159. 

loj?,  adj.  hateful,  n.  65,  72, 
194  etc.;  15>,  d.  115:  — 
as  sb.  loJ>e,  n.  943. 

l6J?e,  sb.  suffering,  harm, 
d.  1146. 

loue,  see  leof. 

louerd,  see  lauerd. 

lud,  adj.  loud,  n.  6,  983; 
liide,  d.  314:  —  adv.  hide, 
112,  141,  982,  1255. 

lugge,  sb.  poles,  rods,  dpi. 
1609  :  cp.  Prov.  Eng. 
lug,  pliable  rod  such  as 
is  used  in  thatching. 

lure,  sb.  loss,  d.  a.  11 53. 

luring,  sb.  looking  sullen, 
louring,  n.  423:  cf.  Sic. 
Et.  Diet.  s.  v.  leer. 

lust,  sb.  desire,  pleasure, 
n.  507  ;  luste,  d.  895  ; 
1397;  lustes,  apl.  1414; 
see  Note  1388. 

lust,  3  s.  impers.  it  pleases, 
212,  213,  287,  613  j 
luste,  opt.  s.  it  <voere pleas- 
ing, 39:  —  pers.  have 
joy  in,  desire,  luste,  opt. 
s.  1193. 


luste,  inf.   listen,   896;  pt. 

s.     143     etc.;     lust,     is. 

1594;  imp.  s.  263,  267, 

546    etc.  ;    lustej>,    imp. 

_  pi.   1729. 

lute,  sb.  little,  n.  763. 

lutel,  lutle,  adj.  little,  561, 
631,  1097,  1628  etc:  — 
adv.  lutel,  769,  1404: — • 
as  sb.  lutel,  a.  911,  d. 
1309. 

lute)?,    3s.     lies    concealed, 

373- 

liij?er,  adj.  evil,  bad,  11 37, 

liitli,  inf.  diminish,  540. 

luue,  sb.  love,  n.  516, 
1447  etc.;  a.  461,  1343 
etc.;  d.  207,  446  etc. 

luuien,    inf.     love,     1341, 
luule  1345,  1357;  luueb, 
3s.  230,  232  etc.;  luulej?, 
P1-  79*»  J355- 
M 

mahte,  see  mai. 

mai,    is.    can,    may,    228, 

383   etc.;   3s.    274,  341, 

350  etc.,  may  1 41 5;  opt. 

s.   1266;   mahte,  opt.  pt. 

J    141 5:  has  povoer,  3  s. 

762;   opt.    s.    1440,   see 

Note, 
maide,  sb.  maid,  n.  1343, 

1423,  1459;  a.  1064;  d. 


222 


<£>loe#an? 


1 41 9;  npl.  1338,  maid- 
enes  151 6. 

maine,  sb.  power,  d.  760. 

maister,  sb.  master,  n.  191, 
1746,  maistre  1778. 

make,  sb.  mate,  husband, 
a.  1159;  d.  11935  to 
make,  d.  as  husband, 
1429. 

makie,  opt.  s.  make,  1544; 
maket>,  3s.  354,  638;  pi. 
650,  1390,  make^  1648; 
makest,  2s.  339. 

man,  mon,  sb.  man,  n.  477, 
783,  691  etc.;  a.  1771; 
mannes,  g.  1476,  monnes 
338  ;  monne,  marine,  d. 
389  (see  Note  307),  800 
etc;  gpl.  234,  289,  475, 
604  etc.;  dpi.  131  etc., 
mannenne,  1725;  men, 
npl.  127  etc.;  apl.  330, 
1246  etc.;  dpi.  885, 
910. 

mani,  adj.  many,  many  a, 
n.  1323,  moni  141 1, 
1575  etc.;  a.  man!  759, 
1756;  manie,  a.  1755; 
monle,  apl.  257. 

mani-fSlde,  adj.  manifold, 
many,  1551. 

mankiinne,  sb.  mankind, 
men,  d.  849;  man-kunne, 
a.  973. 


mannenne,  see  man. 

mansing,  sb.  excommuni- 
cating, n.  1 3 1 2 ;  man- 
singe,  d.  1 182. 

masse,  sb.  mass,  d.  481; 
a.  1 1 81. 

may,  see  mai. 

me,  pron.  me,  d.  38,  49,  50 
etc. j  a.  84,  154  etc.;  d. 
forme,  34;  a.  myself,  56, 
59,  263  etc. :  see  Note 
869. 

me,  mon,  pron.  one,  people, 
32,  142,  291,  292,  340, 
455>  779>  845,  992  etc. 

mede,  sb.  meado-iv,  d.  438. 

meinj?,  3s.  disturbs,  945 : 
mixed,  mingled,  pp. 
meind  131,  imeind  18, 
428,  imend  870,  imeinde 
823. 

men,  see  man. 

mene,  is.  mean,  tell,  indi- 
cate, 92,  583;  menest, 
2s.  648,  menst  755. 

mene,  inf.  complain,  reflex, 
see  Note  1257;  mene>, 
pi.  (J  reflex.)  1563. 

meoster,  sb.  office,  business, 
a.  924. 

merci,  sb.  mercy,  a.  1092. 

mere-wode,  adj.  mad  for 
mares,  496. 

mershe,  sb.  marsh,  d.  304. 


^lossan? 


223 


meshe,  inf.  beat  into  a  mass, 

84. 
mest,  adj.  sup.  most,  great- 
est, 684,  852. 
mete,  sb.  meat,  food,  a.  107, 

597;  d.  1530,  1630. 
mi,  see  min. 
mid,  prep,  (see  Notes  800, 

1680)  nvith,  18,   27,  76 

etc.;  mide  i768,mit  616: 

—  adv.  mid,  136. 
middel-ni}te,  sb.  midnight, 

d.  325,  midel-nijte  731. 
mi^t,  2s.  art  able,  canst,  64 

etc.,     see    Notes     11 22, 

1620,   mijtu   502,   mijst, 

mist,  see  Notes  78,  642; 

myht      J  771:  —  might, 

could,   mijte,    opt.    pt.  s. 

371  etc.;  pt.  s.   42  etc., 

mihte   953;    mihte,    opt. 

pt.  pi.  1749;  mutest,  pt. 

2S.    256,   mijtistu    1504; 

mijte,    might  be,   pt.    pi. 

1 1 04. 
mi}te,  sb   might,  power,  a. 

1 1 88,   1670,   mijtte   536 

(see  Note), 
mile,  sb.  milk,  a.  1009. 
milce,  sb.  clemency,  d.  1404; 

milse,  a.  1083. 
milde,  adj.  mild,  kind,  1032: 

comp.  mildre  1775. 
mile,  sb.  mile,  n.  1592. 


milse,  see  milce. 

min,  mine,  pron.  poss.  (see 
Note  n),my,  712,  1460, 
436,  605  etc. j  mire,  df. 
1 741;  ml,  37,  272  etc. 

mis-beode,  inf.  abuse,  mis- 
use, 1541. 

mis-dede,  misdoing,  n. 
231 :  see  Note. 

mis-don,  inf.  do  amiss, 
1489  5   mis-do,    opt.    pi. 

1353  >  PP-  1393  >  mjs- 
de>,  3s.  636  etc.  5  mis- 
do^,  pi.  1770. 

mis-f5nge,  inf.  take  amiss, 
use  amiss,  1374;  do 
amiss,  opt.  s.  1440. 

mis-^enge,  sb.  misfaring, 
missing  the  mark,  d. 
1229:  see  Note. 

mis-hap,  sb.  mishap,  ill- 
fortune,  a.  1249. 

misliche,  adv.  variously, 
regardlessly,  badly,  1773. 

mislikej?,     3  s.     displeases, 

344- 

mis-nyme,  opt.  pi.  mistake, 
fall  into  error,  J  1353; 
misnume,  pp.  mistaken, 
1514. 

mis-rede,  inf.  give  bad  ad- 
vice, 1063;  mis-raddest, 
pt.  2s.   160. 

mis-reken,      inf.      reach 


224 


<6los#arp 


wrongly,  go  amiss,  490, 

mis-reke  675. 
mis-rempe,    opt.     pi.    go 

headlong  to  ill  (on   r,   / 

confused     in     MS.      see 

Note  1106),   1353:  dash 

ahead   nx-rongly,    misrep- 
resent, opt.  s.   1787. 
mis-storte,    inf.   start,   go 

amiss,  677. 
mist,  3s.  misses,  fails,  825; 

see  Note  1640;  imist,  pp. 

581;  miste,  see  Note  764. 
mist,  see  mi;t  :  Note  78. 
miste,  see  Note  764. 
mistide,  opt.   s.   impers.  it 

iv ill  turn  out  ill,  1501. 
mit,  see  mid. 
mo,  adv.  comp.  more,  11 08, 

1330: — as   sb.    a.    564: 

—  see  Note  803. 
mod,  sb.  mood,  anger,  a.  8, 

952  :     mind,    mood,    apl. 

1032;  mode,  d.  5i7etc.  ; 

apl.  see  Note  1520. 
mod,  see  mot. 
modi,  adj.  full  of  passion, 

courageous,  500. 
modi-nesse,     sb.     passion, 

pride,  d.  141 6;  mddlnesse 

a.   1405. 
mon,  see  man,  me. 
mone,     sb.     complaint,     a. 

J  'S*o. 


mom,  see  mam. 
I  monne,  see  man. 
more,    adj.     comp.     more, 

greater,  690,  786  etc. :  — 

adv.  213,  448,  516  etc.: 

—  as  sb.  n.  482,  a.  1207- 

10,  d.  1403. 
more,  sb.  moor,  d.  818. 
more,    sb.    root,   stump,   d. 

1392,  1422;  a.  1328. 
more3eiinge,  sb.  morning, 

d.   1718. 
mor^e,  sb.  with  a,  morning, 

d.  432. 
mose,  sb.  titmouse,  n.   69, 

503. 
mot,  3s.    must,   471,    669, 

671  etc. ,  mod  636;  most, 

2s.     1304,    moste   1302; 

moten,    mote,    opt.     pi. 

741,    857;  moste,   pt.  s. 

665:  may,   mote,   opt.  s. 

52,  987-8-9  etc. 
mot,  sb.  controversy,  speech, 

a.  468. 
mo  we,     inf.    moiv,    reap, 

1040. 
miichel,  adj.   much,  great, 

1094,    1207  etc.;  muche 

7645    miichele,    wk.    d. 

1217: — adv.  muchel  847, 

miichele    906:  —  as    sb. 

muche,   1212,  1770. 
muje,  pi.  can,  may,  are  able, 


45los#arp 


225 


62;  opt.   pi.    182,  1117} 

muhe,  opt.  s.  158 1. 
miilne,  sb.  mill,  d.  86,  see 

Note;  gpl.  778. 
munekes,  sb.   monks,  npl. 

729. 
miir^e,  sb.   mirth,  joy,  n. 

341,    7185  a.  725,    897; 

d.    1448,    miirhbe    1402; 

mure^e,  n.  355. 
miirie,  adj.  merry,   delight- 
ful, 345>  728. 
murninge,    sb.    mourning, 

d.  1598. 
mus,   sb.    mice,   apl.    6075 

npl.  87}  muse,  dpi.  591, 

610. 
mu)>,   sb.    mouth,   n.    673, 

676  etc. ;  muj>e,  dpi.  234; 

ds.  698  etc.  j  a.  1757. 
mwe,  opt.  pr.  muwe,  can, 

J37i. 

myht,  see  mi^t. 

N 

na,  adv.  with  more,  mo, 
never,  no,  213,  564. 

na,  901,  see  nan. 

nabbe]?,  pi.  have  not,  252, 
1005,  101 1 ;  nabbed  536. 

nabide]?,  3s.  see  abide. 

nabu})>,  3s-  obeys  not,  782. 

na-cole}?,  3s.  does  not  be- 
come cool,  \i7$. 


nadde,  opt.  pt.  s.  had  not, 

1560,  17085  naddest,  pt. 

2S.  1061. 
nah,  3s.  has    not,    1543  : 

O.  E.  ne  ah\  see  Note, 
naht,     pron.     naught,     n. 

1480. 
nai,   adv.    nay,    266,   4645 

nay  543. 
nam,  is.  am  not,  753,    754 

etc. 
namo,    adv.    or    pron.    no 

more,  568. 
namore,  adv.  not  any  more, 

1639: — pron.  1793—4. 
nan,     adj.     no,     n.     1389, 

15395  nanne,  am.  1238, 

na,     901     etc.: — pron. 

nanne,  a.  812. 
narewe,    adv.     narrowly, 

closely,  68,  377. 
nart,  2s.  art  not,  559,  575 

etc.,    nard    11 38,    nartu 

1330. 
nas,  pt.   s.   nvas  not,    114, 

1336. 
na]?eles,  conj.  neverthe- 
less, 827;  neoJ>eles  1297, 

1 3 14  etc.  $   n6J?eles  149, 

374  etc. 
nauestu,  2s.  thou  hast  not, 

1670. 
nauej?,   3  s.  hath  not,  772, 

948  etc. 


226 


6los#arE 


na-wedej?,  pi.  do  not  be- 
come mad,  i  384. 

na-wiht,  pron.  naught,  n. 
1324,  no-wijt  884,  nawt, 
see  Note  1620: — adv. 
nawt,  no-wiht,  nowt,  not, 
not  at  all,  1470,  1740, 
928,  1391-95. 

nay,  see  nai. 

ne,  adv.  not,  42,  47  etc. :  — 
conj.  nor,  274,  292,  336 
etc. ;  ne  .  .  .  ne,  neither 
.    .   .   nor. 

neauer,  see  neuer. 

nede,  sb.  need,  d.  1584:  — 
adv.  needs,  of  necessity, 
636. 

ne3,  adv.  nigh,  44,  419, 
660;  neh  1220,  1226 
etc.,  ney  1267. 

nele,  3s.  njoill  not,  is  un- 
nxilling,  1482;  nelle,  is. 
452;  nelleb,  pi.  6535 
neltu,  2s.   150. 

neode,  sb.  need,  urgent  re- 
quirement, d.  906,  938: 
need,  pleasure,  a.  1542. 

neor,  adv.  near,  923,  ner 
1657:  comp.  ner,  386, 
1260. 

neoJ?eles,  see  naj?eles. 

nere,  pt.  2s.  nvert  not,  656; 
opt.  pt.  s.  22,  283,  549 
etc. 


nesche,  adj.  soft,  tender, 
delicate,  dainty,  1546: 
weak,  frail,  1 349,  1387. 

nest,  sb.  nest,  n.  627,  643; 
a.  100,  102  etc.;  d.  134, 
964,  1386,  neste  92, 
282  etc. 

netle,  sb.  nettles,  dpi.  593. 

neuer,  never,  adv.  never, 
60,  114  etc.,  neauer  907, 
1308,  1330  etc.,  neuere 
691,  neure  209,  611, 
1631. 

neuestu,  see  nauestu. 

ney,  see  ne^. 

ni,    950,  see  ne. 

nich,  not  I:  see  Note  266. 

Nichole,  sb.  Nicholas,  n. 
191  etc. 

nijt,  sb.  night,  a.  331,  336, 
447  etc.;  d.  with  a,  89, 
219  etc.,  by  night;  nijte, 
d.  365,  388  etc.,  nihte 
1432;  nijtes,  npl.  523; 
adv.  g.  by  night,  238, 
591,  1590. 

ni^tingale,  sb.  nightingale, 
13,  29  etc.  ;  nijtegale 
1711,  1781;  nihtegale 
1512,  1635. 

nimen,  inf.  take,  catch,  607, 
1764;  nime,  inf.  1097,, 
1469;  is.  457;  opt.  s. 
359,  727;nimeKpl.  649j 


^iostfarp 


227 


nom,   pt.   s.    124,    1073; 

i-nume,   pp.  541,    1059: 

entered  upon,  inume,  pp. 

1197. 
nis,    3s.   is  not,    120,    206 

etc. 
ni-s5,  opt.  s.  see  not,  674; 

ni-seje,  opt.  pt.  s.  382. 
nij>,     sb.     en<vy,     'violence, 

malice,  n.  1194;  nl)>e,  d. 

417,  1088,  1096,  11835 

a.  1 40 1. 
n5,  adv. not,  not  any,  42,  283 

etc. ;  not  at  all,  579,  J  266; 

no  i53>  997- 

no,  see  non. 

nod,  sb.  need,  n.  466,  node 
638;  d.  529,  588  etc. :  — 
business,  duty,  a.  388. 

no}t,  noht,  adv.  not,  not  at 
all,  102,  154  etc.:  — 
pron.  nojt,  naught,  246, 
559,  574  etc.,  see  Note 
1127. 

nolde,  pt.  s.  would  not, 
159;  opt.  pt.  s.  1080. 

nom,  see  nimen. 

nomon,  see  no,  mon. 

nome,  sb.  name,  d.  1762. 

non  (see  Note  37),  adj.  no, 
534,  559,  772  etc.;  none 
493,  212,  1265  etc  ;  no, 
571,  780  etc.:  —  n5n, 
pron.  none,  n.  1705. 


Nore-weie,  sb.  Norway,  d. 
909. 

nor]?,  adv.  north,  north- 
ward, 921. 

not,  is.  know}  not,  11 80, 
1181  etc.  ;  3s.  780,  823 
etc.;  nost,  2s.  755,  11 12, 
niistest  1300;  niijte,  pi. 
1 75 1,  ntite  1 010;  nuste, 
pt.  s.  1 441. 

note,  sb.  use, profit,  n.  557; 
d.  330,  see  Note  11 22: 
offices,  apl.  1034,  1624. 

no]?eles,  see  na)?eles. 

noJ?er,  pron.  neither,  n. 
1 127. 

no)7er,  conj.  correl.  with  ne, 
neither  .  .  .  nor,  465, 
754  etc.;  nou)>er,  1732. 

noJ?er-ward,  adv.  cast 
down,  144. 

n6-J>ing,  sb.  nothing,  n. 
624;  a.  1247:  —  adv. 
not  at  all,  562,  616. 

noti,  is.  use,  employ,  1033. 

nout,  see  no3t. 

nouJ?er,  see  n5j>er. 

no-war,  adv.  nowhere, 
1168. 

nowe,  adv.  newly,  recently, 
1 129. 

no-wi}t,  nowt,  see  na- 
wiht. 

nu,  adv.  now,  46,  205  etc. 


228 


<5\oz*Bxy 


niille,    is.  nvill  not,    1639, 

mile    1210  ;    milled,    pi. 

i764jniiltu,  2s.  905,  909 

etc. 
nii3te,  niist,  niistest,  niite, 

see    not;    Notes    1010, 

1751. 

O 

o,  see  on ;  Note  37. 

oder,  see  6)?er. 

od-wite,  sb.  disgrace,  a. 
1233. 

of,  prep,  from,  of,  22,  24, 
53,  191  etc.:—  of,  14, 
82,  152,  247  etc.  :  — 
from,  125,  130,  133, 
408,  444,  565,  J  456 
etc.  :  —  concerning,  9,  48, 
2 5 2, 3 6 1, 45 5, 803  etc.: — 
with  respect  to,  in  regard 
to,  192,  193,  340,  1411, 
1792,  1415: — on  ac- 
count of,  because   of,  40, 

472,    533,    ii5°,    J397- 
8,  1511. 
of-chamed,   pp.    ashamed, 

934- 

of-drad,  adj.  afraid,  terri- 
fied, 1744;  pi.  1 1  50,  of- 
dradde  1 143. 

oferen,  inf.  terrify,  978 
(see  Note) :  afraid,  oferd, 
pp.  399. 


ofligge,     opt.    s.    may    lie 

upon,    1505. 
of-longed,     pp.     oppressed 

with  longing,  1587. 
ofne,  sb.  o<ven,  furnace,  d. 

292. 
of-slahe,  pp.  killed,  161 1. 
oft,  adv.  often,  36,  81  etc.} 

ofte,  1 21 7,  1 52 1  etc. 
of-toned,  pp.   irritated, 

254. 
of-Jmjte,  pt.   s.   impers.   // 

caused  regret  to,  397. 
5}e,  adj.   own,   n.  259;  d. 

1650;  ojene,  d.  16525  a. 

1 341,    1089;    ojer,    see 

Note  118  j  owe,  a.  100. 
o^t,  sb.  aught,  a.  662,  663. 
old,  adj.  old,  25,  638;  olde 

207,    1037,    aide    1183: 

—  as  sb.  of  olde,  d.  685, 
see  Note  637. 

on,  prep,  on,  94,  175,  429 
etc.:  —  in,  51,  174,  275, 
294  etc.,  one  613:  — 
on,  with  respect  to,  364: 

—  with  a.  upon,  1 1 9  9 . 
on,  pron.  (see  Note  37),  one, 

n.  82,  117  etc.  j  one,  d. 
357,  801  etc. ;  in  on,  in 
one  strain,  without  vari- 
ation, 356;  at  one,  to- 
gether, 785;  ones,  g.  of 
one  kind,  1395:  — adj.  6, 


^lossarp 


229 


713,  333;  one,  d.  109, 
547  :  —  art.  a,  an,  on, 
25,  90,  383  etc. j  one,  1, 
2,  85,  146  etc.  j  ore,  df. 
1750-54,  see  Note  175 
6,  a  certain,  103:  —  adv. 
one,  alone,  1594. 

onde,  sb.  hate,  jealousy,  d. 
419,  1096}  a.  1401. 

ond-sware,  sb.  answer,  n. 
1 185;  a.  1 176,  ondswere 

1573- 
one,  613,  see  on. 
ones,  1395,  see  on. 
ongred,  see  Note  1588. 
on-sene,     sb.    presence , 

glance:  see  Note  1706. 
op,  adv.  up,  1394. 
ope,  adj.  apparent,  168. 
opeliche,  adv.  openly,  853. 
orde,    sb.   point,    d.    1068, 

1712:     beginning,     d. 

1785. 
ore,  sb.   compassion,  grace, 

d.    1404;    a.    1083  j    g. 

886,  1568. 
ore,  see  on. 
orfe,   sb.    cattle,   a.    1199; 

oreue,  d.  1 157. 
orpliche,  adj.  of  the  earth, 

788. 
6j?er,  pron.   other,   7,  117, 

671  etc.  }  pi.  136,  286 } 

oberes,  g.  9,  1 1 ;  oke,  pi. 


1593  :  —  adj.  other,  an- 
other, 61>er,  239,  54,  204, 
590  etc.  j  6J>re,  dpi.  1376} 
obers,  6J>res,  g.  1476, 
1499}  oder,  dpi.  905. 
oper,  pron.  either,  n.  1477: 

—  adj.  J  1438. 

6}>er,  conj.  or,  243,  486, 
666  etc.;  oher  .  .  .  5>er, 
either .  .  .  or,  328,  1479- 
80. 

ov,  see  6w. 

ouer,  prep.  adv.  over,  be- 
yond, see  Note  347:  — 
prep,  over,  upon,  64, 
1524. 

ouer-come,  pp.  overcome, 
1662,  ouer-cume,  -kume, 
542,  1198;  ouer-kome, 
opt.  s.  1743;  ouer-kum- 
e\>,  3s.  788. 

ouer-dede,  sb.  overdoing, 
excess,  d.  352. 

ouer-fulle,  sb.  superabund- 
ance, n.  354. 

ouer-gan,  inf.  pass  over, 
952  ;  ouer-g5,   pp.    567: 

—  overcomes,    ouer-geb, 
3s.  947. 

ouer-hoheS,    3s.    despises, 

1406. 
ouer-kome,  see  ouer-come. 
ouer-l5nge,  adv.  too  long, 

450. 


230 


&los#an? 


ouer-quatie,    inf.    satiate, 

353- 

ouer-se^,  pt.  s.  observed 
vuith  scorn,  30. 

ouer-sid,  3s.  takes  posses- 
sion of,  1438. 

ouer-swiJ>e,  adv.  very,  too 
much,  1 51  8. 

ouer-uarej?,  pi.  pass  over, 

_   387. 

6w,  pron.  you,  d.  1686, 
1688  etc.;  a.  1683,1698; 
ov,  d.  114,  eu  1793:  — 
ower,  poss.  adj.  your, 
1685,  1736,  1699. 

owe,  see  03c 

owel,  sb.  avol,  n.  80. 

ower,  see  ow. 

oxe,  sb.  ox,  n.  629. 


pa^es,  sb.  paths,  apl.  377, 

380,  815. 
pes,  sb.  peace,  a.  1730. 
pie,  sb.  magpies,  npl.   126; 

apl.  161  3. 
pine,  sb.  pain,    torture,  d. 

1 1 16;  a.  1566. 
pinnuc,    sb.    ?  hedge-spar- 

rovo  (?  Welsh  pine),   n. 

1 130. 
pipe,  sb.  pipe,  n.    343;  d. 

22,  24,  319. 
pipest,  2s.  pipest,  503. 


piping,  sb.  piping,  n.  567; 

pipinge,  d.  316  etc. 
plaid,  sb.   debate,  a.  1737; 

plait,    n.    5;    plaites,    g. 

472. 
plaidi,     inf.     argue,     184, 

1639;  plaideft,  3s.  944. 
plaiding,  sb.  debate,  a.  12. 
pleien,     inf.     play,     486; 

pleie,     213,     1359;    is. 

531;  opt.  s.  1425. 
Pope,  sb.  Pope,  d.  746. 
Portesham,  sb.  Portesham, 

d.  1 791,  -h5m  1752. 
poure,  adj.  as  sb.  the  poor, 

n.  482. 
preost,  sb.  priest,  n.  902, 

1313;  d.  1311  ;  prost,  n. 

322,  prest  1 1 80;  prestes, 

g.    1 1 79,   1306;  preoste, 

dpi.    913;     prostes,   npl. 

733- 
proude,  sb.  pride,  n.  1685. 
piilte,  is.  pelt,  thrust,  873  ; 

obscene  sense,  inf.  1524. 
punde,  sb.  pounds  (of  mon- 

ej)>  gpl-  "01. 


qualm,  see  cwalm. 

qua)?,  see  cwaj?. 

qued,      adj.      vile,      evil, 

1 1  3  7  :  —  as  sb.    evil,  a. 

1152. 


^loetfarp 


231 


queme,  inf.  please,  209. 
quide,  sb.  saying,  a.  685. 


rad,  adj.  quick,  ready,  n. 
1043  5  rade,  pi.  423  : 
raddere,  comp.  738. 

raddest,  pt.  2s.  didst  coun- 
sel, 159. 

raj?e,  adv.  quickly,  1086, 
1700: — early,  1147:  — 
rabere,  more  quickly, 
comp.   1242. 

reache,  see  reke. 

reades,  see  red. 

readlice,  adv.  readily,  1 2  8 1 . 

recche,  inf.  reck,  care,  8035 
is.  60,  458  etc.,  reche 
58;  rech,  3s.  491,  rehb 
14045  recchej>,  pi.  1006  5 
ro^te,  opt.  pt.  s.  427. 

red,  sb.  counsel,  good  judg- 
ment, a  nvise  method  of 
procedure,  n.  682;  a. 
396,  696,  762  etc.  ;  d. 
see  Notes  680,  14645 
rede,  d.  307,  660,  702, 
704  .  etc.  5  reades,  apl. 
1222. 

rede,  adj.  red,  830. 

rede,  inf.  counsel,  16975 
is.  860:  —  speak,  present, 
inf.  1782:  —  read,  inf. 
35°- 


redles,  adj.  <voithout  counsel, 

691. 
red-purs,   sb.     treasury  of 

good  judgment,    n.    694: 

see  Note  696. 
re^el,  sb.  covering,  n.  562: 

see  Note. 
rehte,  see  rihte. 
reh}>,  see  recche. 
reke,  inf.   relate,    1606:  — 

tell,   explain,   reache,  is. 

1449,  see  Note  1106. 
rem,  sb.  outcry,  a.   12 15. 
rente,     sb.       revenue,     a. 

1767,  1773,  1776. 
reowe,  sb.    sadness,   grief, 

d.  1445 :  see  Note, 
res,     sb.    violent     impetus 

(of  passion),  n.  512. 
rest,   inf.   rest  [for   a    mo- 
ment), 1452. 
reste,  sb.  rest,  a.  281. 
reue,    sb.    devastation,    d. 

458. 
riche,adj.  rich,p\.  1770:  — 

as  sb.  482. 
riche,  sb.    realm,  n.    357  ; 

d.  361,  717,  855. 
ridejj,  3s.  rides,  494. 
ri}t,   adj.    right,   549;   riht, 

958,    1692  ;  rijte,    rihte, 

179,  264:  proper,  1345, 

966,    1640   etc.  ;  rihtne, 

am.     1238  j  rehte,    am. 


232 


e\o$&m 


1602:  —  straight,  rijte, 
rijtte,  a.  962,  815:  — 
pure,  mere,  rijte,  d.  276, 
1088,  1096: — rijt,  adv. 
just,  exactly,  76,  80,  142 
etc.  :  riht,  right,  straight, 
17365  bar  rihte,  straight- 
away, 1246. 

ri}t,  sb.  right,  n.  877,  969; 
a.  188  etc.,  riht  950, 
1 371  etc.  j  rijte,  d.  88, 
164  etc.:  mid  rijte, 
rightly,  186,  11 45,  1680; 
arijt,  ariht,  adv.  aright, 
400,  904  etc. 

rinde,  sb.  £<zr£,  d.  602. 

ripe,  adj.  mature,  211. 

lis,  sb.  t'zuig,  branch,  2.. 
1636  ;  npl.  586  }  rise,  d. 
19,  53  etc. ;  dpi.   1664. 

rodde,  sb.  rod,  d.  1123, 
1646. 

rode,  sb.  cross,  n.  1382. 

rojte,  see  recche. 

rok,  sb.  rook,  n.  11 30. 

Rome,  sb.  Rome,  d.  746, 
1016. 

rorde,  sb.  speech,  <voice,  n. 
311. 

rose,  sb.  rose,  n.  443. 

rude,  sb.  redness,  d.  443. 

ru$e,  adj.  rough,  hairy, 
1013. 

rugge,  sb.  back,  d.  775. 


rum,  adj.  spacious,  643. 
rum-hus,     sb.     privy,    a, 

652  ;  rum-huse,  d.  592. 
rime,  sb.  running,  a.  11 56. 
rune,    sb.    secret,    mystery, 

a.  1 1 70. 
riire,     sb.   fall,    ruin,    d. 

1 1 54. 


sade,  adj.  sated,  wearied, 
452  (O.  E.  sad). 

sake,  sb.  strife,  controversy, 
a.  1 160  ;  d.  1430  :  — 
sake,  d.  1589. 

salue,  sb.  salve,  a.  888. 

sarue)>,  J  1579:  seeserue)>. 

sat,  see  sitte. 

schadde,  is.  shed :  see 
Note  16 16. 

schal,  is.  shall,  must,  960 
etc.,  shal  547  etc.,  sol 
1025  ;  schal,  3s.  187  etc., 
seal  1 199,  shal  342  etc.; 
schalt  2s.  956,  schald 
1572,  schaltu  209  etc., 
shalt  544  etc.,  shaltu 
1290  ;  schal,  schul, 
schule,  shulle,  pi.  1206, 
1200,  1 192,  856  etc., 
J  schullej>  see  Note 
1 1 3  3  ;  scholde,  sholde, 
solde,  schulde,  opt.  pt. 
s.      1728,      464,       965, 


6los#arE 


233 


975,  141 7  etc.  ;  scholde, 

solde,    schulde,    opt.  pt. 

pi.     1691,    977,     1262; 

shulle,  opt.   s.   442-5. 
schame,     sb.      shame,     n. 

1761  }  a.  50,  1483  etc.  } 

d.  1283,  1650,  1665  ; 

schome,    a.    167; 

schomme,       d.        1652  ; 

shome,   d.     522,    1075  ; 

a-  363,  1053,  1089. 
schamie,      imp.      s.        be 

ashamed,  161. 
scharp,  adj.  sharp,  79  etc. ; 

see  Notes  270,  1676  :  — 

adv.  scharpe,  141. 
schawles,  see  shueles. 
schede,     inf.      distinguish, 

197. 
schelde,     sb.     shield,      d. 

171  3  :  see  Note. 
schende,    inf.    revile,    ill- 
treat,    274,    1287  ;    opt. 

pt.     s.     285  ;     i-schend, 

pp.  1336. 
schilde,    inf.     shield,    62; 

opt.     s.      57  ;     opt.    pi. 

1253  j     schild,    imp.     s. 

163. 
schille,    adj.    shrill,    142, 

558  etc.  :  adv.  1656,  see 

Note  1683. 
schipes,     sb.     ships,     apl. 

1205. 


schirme,  mi.  fight,  306. 
schit-worde,  sb.  voords  of 

vile  abuse,  dpi.  286. 
scholde,  see  schal. 
schome,  see  schame. 
schonde,     sb.     shame,    n. 

1498,  1733. 
schrichest,  2s.  schreechest, 

223  :  see  Note  178. 
schulde,  schule,  see  schal. 
schunest,    2s.     dost    shun, 

590  j    schunet,   schuniet, 

shuneb,    3s.     236,    219, 

1 1 65  ;   shunle)>,  pi.    792. 
sckile,   sb.   discrimination, 

reason,  d.  f  86. 
Scot-londe,  sb.  Scotland,  d. 

1758  ;  d.  for  a.  908  (see 

Note). 
screwen,  sb.  evil  persons, 

shrews,   wk.    dpi.    287  : 

cp.    dpi.   -n   in    bischo- 

pen. 
sea,  sb.  sea,  n.  1205  j  see, 

d.  1754. 
seche,  inf.  seek,  go  to  visit, 

1759:    seek,    inf.   sechen 

1508  5  sechej>,   3s.    380  j 

pi.  538. 
sed,    sb.     seed,    a.     1041  j 

sedes,  npl.  1129-34. 
sede,  see  segge. 
see,  see  sea. 
segge,  sb.  sedge,  d.  18. 


234 


<$los#ai^ 


segge,  inf.  say,  tell,  186, 
393,  671  etc. ;  is.  266, 
835,  (fut.  sense)  1421; 
opt.  s.  60,  844  ;  imp.  pi. 
116  ;  segget,  pi.  98  etc.  ; 
imp.  pi.  113;  seie,  imp. 
s.  217  etc.,  sei  1407  ; 
seist,  2s.  50  etc.,  seistu 
1075  etc.}  sei>,  3s.  176, 
1072  ;  pt.  s.  sede  33, 
217  etc. ,  seide  9,  2  3  5  etc. , 
seidde  349  ;  opt.  pt.  s. 
sede,  1296. 

selde,  adv.  seldom,  943-4. 

sele,  sb.  joy,  favorable  time, 
d.  953. 

seme,  inf.  reconcile,  187. 

semes,  sb.  horse-loads,  apl. 

775- 
sende,  is.  send,  1264  j  opt. 

s.  1570  ;  send,  pi.  1520. 
sene,   sb.   povoer  of  sight, 

a.  240,  368. 
seolfe,      seolue,      solue, 

solve,  siilf,  siilfe,  siilue, 

see  Note  835. 
seolliche,  adj.  marvellous, 

1299. 
seoluer,      sb.      silver,    n. 

1366. 
seorhe,  see  sorje. 
seo^e,    adv.    afterwards, 

14025  so)?J?e  324,  1 103. 
serue}),  3s.  serves,  1579. 


seten,  pt.  pi.  sat,  11 02. 
setle,  sb.  seat,  d.  594. 
sette,   inf.    set,    1626}  pt. 

s.  1057. 
sewl,  inf.  shonv,  151. 
shafte,  sb.    creatures,   apl. 

788. 
shal,  shalt,  see  schal. 
sheld,  sb.  shield,  a.   1022. 
sheue,    sb.     sheaves,    dpi. 

455- 
shine,  sb.  shins,  npl.  1060. 
shine,  opt.    s.   shine,   963  : 

see  Note  961. 
shold,  see  schal. 
shome,  see  schame. 
short,  adj.  short,  73. 
shueles,  sb.   scarecrovo,  n. 

1 1 2  8  ;      schawles,      apl. 

1648. 
shulle,  see  schal. 
shunej?,  shunie)?,  see  schu- 

nest. 
sibbe,  sb.  friendly  union,  a. 

1005. 
sichst,  see  Note  242. 
side,    sb.    side,   part,    429 

etc. ;  sid,  d.  J  1438  :  see 

Notes  299,  1438. 
si}te,  sihS,  see  sikej?. 
siker-hede,     sb.     security, 

certainty,  a.   1265. 
sikerliche,     adv.      surely, 

certainly,  11  39. 


$tos#ar£ 


235 


sikej?,  3s.  sighs,  1352,  sih-8 
1587  ;  sijte,  pt.  s.  1 29 1. 

singen,  inf.  sing,  709,  sin- 
gin  910,  singe  39,  47, 
54  etc.  ;  singe,  is.  313 
etc.  ;  opt.  s.  967  etc.  ; 
2s.  singest  331  etc.,  sing- 
ist  219  etc.,  singst  505 
etc.  ,•  3s.  singe>,  singet, 
singK  414,  196,  721  ; 
pi.  singeb,  singed,  483, 
916  ;  singinge,  pr.  part, 
see  Note  855  ;  song,  pt. 
s.  20  etc.  j  sunge,  pt. 
2s.  1049,  1052  j  opt.  pt. 
s.  1026  j  sungen,  pt.  pi. 
1663. 

sit,  site,  see  sitte. 

sij»,  see  so. 

sij?e,  sb.  time,  d.  293,  325, 
1 1 6 3,  sifte  1 1 84  :  —  lot, 
experience,  sl>e,  d.  993. 

sitte,  inf.  sit,  282,  743, 
960  etc.  j  is.  1218, 
1244  ;  opt.  s.  384  ;  sit- 
test,  2s.  89  etc.  ;  sit,  3s. 
86,  1587  j  sitteb,  pi. 
1682,  97  ;  site,  imp.  s. 
655  ;  sat,  pt.  s.  15  etc.  ; 
seten,  pt.  pi.  1102. 

siuej>,  3s.  follows,  1526. 

skente,  is.    amuse,  please, 

449  5  P^  s-  Io85- 
skentinge,  sb.  amusement, 


pleasure,  n.  986  j  a.  446  ; 

d.  532,  613. 
skere,  inf.  separate,  purify, 

1302  :   cp.  O.  E.  sceran, 

shear,      shave  ;     scerian, 

divide,  cut  off. 
slepep,    pi.     are    sleeping, 

J593- 
slide,  inf.  slip,  slide,  1390. 
slider,  adj.  slippery,  956. 
slitte,  sb.  pockets,  apl.  1 1 1 8. 
slo,  sb.  slough,  d.  1394. 
smak,  sb.  scent,  a.  823. 
smal,  adj.  small,  thin,  73  ; 

smale,  pi.  64,  204,   277, 

d.  320  etc. 
smel,    sb.    smell,    sense  of 

smell,  n.  822. 
smiten,  inf.  smite,  78. 
smithes,    sb.    smiths,   npl. 

J  1206. 
snailes,  sb.  snails,  npl.  87. 
snel,   adj.    quick,  vigorous, 

531,     829,    9 1 8  j    snelle, 

768  :  as  sb.  snelle,  n.  526. 
snepe,  adj.    as  sb.  foolish, 

d.  225. 
sniuw,  3s.  snoivs,  620:  see 

Note, 
snou,  sb.  snonv,    n.    1002, 

snov     430  ;     snowe,     d. 

413  ;  snuwes,  npl.    1206 

(see  Note). 
so,  adv.  so,  52,  209  etc.  : 


236 


^lostfan? 


thus  348  :  with  al,  just 
so,  thus,  129  etc.  :  — 
conj.  as,  156-7,  271, 
286,  322  etc.  ;  as  if,  77, 
97  etc.  :  ri}t  so,  just  like 
805  just  as  if,  142,  306: 
so  .  .  .  so,  as  .  .  .  as, 
334,  383  etc.  ;  so  .  .  . 
as,  681-2. 

so,  is.  see,  34  ;  sit>,  siij>,  3s. 
950,  246  ;  sob,  pi.    884. 

softe,  adj.  soft,  loiv,  6  etc.  5 
mild,  easy,  easily  affected, 
1350  etc. :  —  sup.  softest, 
most  comfortable,  644. 

sol,  solde,  see  schal. 

sole}?,  3s.  becomes  soiled, 
1276. 

solve,  solue,  see  seolfe. 

some,  adj.  J  180  :  see  Note. 

sone,  adv.  with  s5,  soon  as, 
501,  518  etc. 

song,  see  singen. 

song,  sb.  song,  singing,  n. 
220,  315  etc.  ;  a.  36, 
326  etc.  j  songe,  n.  343 
(see  Note)  ;  d.  11,  46 
etc.  ;  dpi.  82,  1 361  5 
songes,  g.  see  Note 
13585  apl.  722  etc.  ; 
dpi.  896,  1460. 

sor,  sb.  grief,  hurt,  pain, 
a.  1234  ;  sore,  d.  540, 
689-90,  1084. 


sore,  adj.  sore,  grievous, 
1472,  1595  5  J  s5r> 
1473  : — adv.  sore, griev- 
ously, 885,  1150,  1352, 
I564-67-87,  1603,  J 
1472. 

soqe,  sb.  sorrow,  pain, 
apl.  431  j  seorhe,  d. 
1599,  sorwe  884. 

son,  adj.  sad,  miserable, 
994,  1084,  1162. 

sori-mod,  adj.  dejected, 
1218. 

sorwe,  see  sor^e. 

sot,  adj.  foolish,  dull,  1435. 

so)?,  see  s5. 

soJj,  adv.  south,  southnvardy 
921. 

s6J>,  adj.  true,  313,  349, 
1 3 17  etc.  ;  soft  1769  ; 
s5>e  d.  698. 

so}?,  sb.  truth,  a.  217,  844, 
soft  950,  ?  soo>  1407  ; 
sot>e,  d.  264,  1258. 

sot-hede,  sb.  folly,  n. 
1488  ;  d.  1375. 

sojj-sa^e,  sb.  true  saying, 
n.   1038. 

so}?)>e,  see  seoJ?J>e. 

soti,  adj.  sooty,  578. 

sottes,  sb.  fool's,  g.  1351, 
1 47 1  ;  fools,  apl.  297. 

soule,  sb.  soul,  d.  1092. 

s5we,     inf.     sonv,     1039  5 


«5los$ar£ 


237 


sowe)>,  3  s.  1 04 1  ;  isowe, 
pp.  1129,  1614. 

spac,  see  speken. 

spale,  sb.  splint,  cleft  stick, 
a.  258  :  see  Note. 

spanne,  inf.   seduce,   1490. 

speche,  sb.  speech,  n.  545, 
548  }  d.  480  ;  a.  13, 
398  etc. 

spec}?,  see  speken. 

spedde,  pt.  pi.  succeeded, 
17925  speddestu,  didst 
thou  speed,  pt.  2s.  169 
(J  spedestu,  pr.). 

speken,  inf.  speak,  678, 
953,speke26i,  553  etc.  ; 
speke,  opt.  s.  1079  5  Pt- 
2s.  554,  3s.  1 51  3  ;  spek- 
est,  2s.  1282  j  spekeb, 
3s.  1536,  1556,  specb 
1072,  1074  etc.;  spac, 
pt.  s.  396,  401  etc.  j 
ispeke,  pp.  1293. 

spel,  sb.  a  long  account,  n. 
128  :  spelle,  a  long  story, 
d.  264,  1794;  proverbs, 
dpi.  294. 

spene,  inf.  spend,  expend, 
165  ;  opt.  s.  1549  5 
speneb,  3s.  1525,  spenb 
362. 

spere,  sb.  spear,  a.  1022  ; 
speres,  g.  1068,  1712. 

spet,  3s.  succeeds,  763. 


speten,  inf.  spit,  spew,  39. 
spille,  inf.  spill,  lose,  1020. 
spire,  sb.  tall  grass,  sprouts, 

dpi.  18. 
spore,  sb.    spur,    clanv,  d. 

1 125  :  see  Note. 
sprede,  inf.  spread,  437. 
sprenge,    sb.     springe,    d. 

1066:  cp.  O.  E.  spring; 

see  Note  1001. 
springe,    inf.     spring    up, 

burst  forth,    437,   11  34  ; 

springeb     3  s.    734,    918, 

spring  1042. 
spure,  sb.  spur,  a.  777. 
spus-briiche,  sb.  adultery, 

a.  1368. 
spuse,  sb.  'wife,  a.  1527. 
spuse,  sb.    marriage-cvonjo, 

a-  13  34. 
spusing,       sb.      marriage 
dues,  n.   1336,  1558;  a. 

^SH',     d.       i34°>     see 

Note. 
spiising-bendes,  sb.  bonds 

of  wedlock,  npl.  1472. 
spiiting,  sb.  contending,  n. 

1574- 
stable,  sb.  stable,  d.  629. 
stal,  see  stele, 
stal,  sb.  stal  ne  stode,  didst 

not  stand  stead  :  see  Note 

1632. 
stalle,  sb.  stall,  d.  629. 


238 


d5lo$sar£ 


stare,  adj.  strong,  severe, 
great,  5,  1473  j  starke, 
524,  1176. 

stard,     3  s.     starts,     leaps, 

379- 
stare-blind,  adj.  purblind, 

241. 
starest,  2s.  starest,  77. 
starke,  see  stare, 
staue,  sb.  staff,  d.  11 67. 
steape,  sb.  step,  n.  1592. 
stede,  sb.   place,  apl.  590; 

a.  966  :  see  Note  590. 
stefne,  sb.  <voice,  n.   317  ; 

d.  314  ;  steune,  n.  522  ; 

d.  504  5  steuene,  n.  986  ; 

d.     727,    915  ;    a.     898, 

1655,  1720  j  apl.  1681. 
stele,  sb.  steel,  d.  1030. 
stele,  inf.  steal,  1499  ;  pt. 

2s.     103  }     stal,     pt.     s. 

1432. 
steorre,    sb.     stars,     apl. 

1329;  storre,  dpi.  1321. 
sterne,    adv.      sternly,    se- 
verely,   112. 
steune,       steuene,       see 

stefne. 
sticke,  sb.  stick,  d.  1625. 
stif,  adj.  stiff,  5,  79,  269. 
sti3Jj,     3  s.      mounts,    rises, 

1405.  ^ 
stille,  adj.  still,  quiet,  261, 

546,    979    etc.  :  — adv. 


still,  at  rest,  282,  1019  j 

lovu,       or       unceasingly, 

1255. 
stoc,   sb.    stump,    stock,   n. 

25  ;  stole,  a.  1 1 13. 
stod,  stode,  see  stond. 
stode,  sb.    stud,  stable,   d. 

495- 
stond,  imp.  s.  stand,  1788; 

stont,  3s.  618,  778  j  stod, 

pt.    s.  25  ;  stode,  pt.  2s. 

1632. 
stone,  sb.  stone,  dpi.  1609  ; 

stoone,  d.  11 67;  stones, 

apl.  1 1 18. 
stor,     adj.     great,    strong, 

1473- 
storre,  see  steorre. 
storre-wis,  adj.  star-ivise, 

1318. 
storue,    inf.     die,    perish, 

1200. 
stottes,   sb.    stallions,  npl. 

495- 
strenge,  sb.  bow-string,  d. 

1230. 
streng}>e,    sb.   strength,   n. 

762,  764    etc.  ;   d.    173, 

765>  783>  7  9*  >  strenc>e, 

n.  12265  a-  I7I3>  strenj?e, 

n.    781,  1674. 
strengur,  see  strong, 
strete,  sb.  street,  road,  a. 

962. 


$lo£#ari? 


239 


strind,  sb.  trunk,  a.  242: 
see  Note. 

strSng,  stronge,  adj. 
strong,  579,  269  etc.  : 
severe,  strenuous,  5,  12  : 
severe,  524  :  difficult, 
667: —  comp.  strengur, 
stronger,  773  :  —  adv. 
stronge,  strongly,  violent- 
ly* *54>  97*. 

stiibbe,  sb.  .rtof&r  q/*  /r/^j, 
dpi.  506. 

stiide,  sb.  place,  d.  936, 
16545  gpl.  1767  :  see 
Note  590. 

stumped,  3  s.  stumbles, 
1424  ;  pi.  1392. 

stunde,  sb.  time,  period  of 
time,  d.  802  ;  a.  see 
Note  1353:  —  moments 
of  labor,  dpi.  706. 

sval,  pt.  s.  swelled  up 
(with  wrath),  7. 

sQete,  see  swete. 

suich,  see  swiich. 

svikel-d3m,  sb.  treachery, 
deception,  n.  167;  a.  163. 

svikel-hede,  see  swikel- 
Bde. 

suljje,  see  swi)?e. 

siilf,  siilue,  see  seolfe. 

stilled,  3s.  becomes  defiled, 
1240. 

sum,  pron.    some,  a.    540 ; 


summe,  npl.  1648  : 
sume,  some,  a  part,  a. 
1599  :  sum,  one,  some, 
see  Note  1016 :  sum  .  .  . 
sum,  one  .  .  .  one, 
1397-8. 

sum,  sume,  adj.  some, 
certain,  1151,  1164, 
293,  6  etc.  ;  summe, 
apl.  1246  ;  sumne,  am. 
XI52>  1353  5  sumere, 
see  Note  1. 

9um-del,  adv.  someivhatt 
870,  934. 

sumere,  sb.  summer,  d. 
416,  509  etc.  j  sumeres- 
tide,  (g.  in  comp.)  sum- 
mer-time, 489. 

sUnegi,  opt.  pi.  sin,  928  ; 
sunege>,  3s.  141 6. 

sunfulle,  adj.  as  sb.  sinful, 
d.  891. 

sunge,  see  singen. 

sunne,  sb.  sun,  n.  963  j  a. 
912. 

sQnne,  sb.  sin,  d.  863  ;  npl. 
1395  i  aP'-  974  5  sunnen, 
dpi.  see  Note  858. 

sQr,  adj.  sour,  bitter,  866. 

sQre,  adj.  sure,  secure, 
1082. 

sUj?,  see  s5. 

suj?e,  see  swij?e. 

swa,  sw5,   conj.    swo,    as, 


240 


#>los£ari? 


1738  :  rijt  swa,  just  so, 
1665  ;  rijt  swo,  just  as 
if,  76  :  —  adv.  swa,  swo, 

Jo,  1373,  *577>  u°7. 
1243  etc.;  swo,  so,  thus, 
804,  1385. 
sweng,  sb.  blonu,  thrust, 
a.  799  ;  swenge,  see  Note 
803,  d.    1286  ;  swenges, 

gpl-  797- 
sweore,   see    swore,   and 

Note  776. 
swete,  inf.  snveat,  171 6. 
swete,  adj.  sweet,  pleasant, 

866  ;  svete  358. 
swiche,  see  swiich. 
swike,    is.      cease,    1459  ; 

swlkej>,  3s.  336  ;  swykst, 

2s.   desistest,   J  406,  see 

Note. 
swikel-ede,  sb.  treachery, 

d.    838  ;   svikel-hede,   n. 

162. 
swij?e,    adv.    'very,    1175, 

1245,  1269  ;  svl^e   377; 

swu>e  1 59 1  ;  suK  2,  12, 

155     etc.:     much,    swi>e 

1274,  swu>e  1 5  61  :  <very 

much,  su>e  205  :  quickly, 

suihe  376. 
swo,  see  swa. 
swonk,  pt.  s.  toiled,  462. 
sworde,     sb.     sword,     d. 

1068. 


swore,  sb.  neck,  n.  73. 

swuch,  suich,  pron.  such, 
such  a  one,  1307,  141 5, 
405;  swucche,  dpi. 
1324: — adj.  such,  such 
a,  swiich,  1453,  1494, 
1496,  etc.,  suich  1169 
etc. ,  swiche,  suiche, 
swucche,  swiiche,  swucch, 

1347,  178,  1551,  »54o> 
151 1,  1450  etc. :  — conj. 
as  if,  suich,  swiich,  566, 
976,   1008,  1014,  1533. 

swQj?e,  see  swij?e. 

swykst,  see  swike. 


tacninge,  sb.  symbolism,  d. 

1213. 
tale,   sb.    speech,    a.    410, 

544,      d.      140,      151 1, 

1740  :    —     dispute,     n. 

190;  a.  3  :  —  tales,  apl. 

257. 
tauelej?,  3s.  plays  at  dice, 

1666. 
teche,  inf.  teach,  914  etc.; 

is.  892,  teache  1334. 
tele,   inf.   abuse,   reproach, 

1377;    tellen,    see   Note 

1415. 
telle,  inf.    tell,   293,    1210 

etc.;     is.      (fut.      sense) 

267,  715;  telst,  2s.  310, 


tilomty 


241 


625  (perhaps  abusest, 
see  tele)  :  —  esteem,  ac- 
count, telstu,  2S.  793  (see 
Note);  tel|>,  3s.  340  (see 
Note). 

teme,  inf.  propagate,  499; 
is.  1470. 

temes,  sb.  teams,  apl.  776. 

teo,  inf.  draw,  go,  1232; 
tihj>,  3  s.  1435. 

teone,  J,  see  Note  458: 
t5ne. 

teres,  sb.  tears,  apl.  426; 
dpi.  865. 

tej?,  sb.  teeth,  dpi.  1538. 

theche,  is.  teach,  J  1334- 
47,  J  14495  cf.  MS.  C 
1766. 

the]?,  J  1538:  see  tej\ 

tide,  sb.  time,  due  season, 
dpi.  26:  see  Note  709. 

tihj?,  see  teo. 

time,  sb.  time,  d.  323,  984. 

tijnnge,  sb.  tidings,  a.  1035 
(see  Note),  1 171. 

to,  prep,  to,  38,  83  etc.: 
—  at,  609,  647,  731, 
1579:— «j,  1311,  1630, 
1 42  9 :  — for,  along  with, 
2^: —to,  for,  53g:  — 
for,  606,  716,  1 122, 
1621,  1631,  1633  :  — 
with  inf.  7 1 ,  2 24,  2  8 1  etc. 

to,  adv.  too,  171,  257,  344, 


452,  489,  653,  983, 
1274,  1561,  1694  etc.: 
— with  verb,  former  prep., 
to,  611,  838,  998,  1432. 

to-berste,  opt.  s.  break 
asunder,  122. 

to-betej?,  3s.  beats  severely, 
1610. 

to-bolewe,  pp.  swelled  to 
bursting,  J  145. 

to-breke,  inf.  rend  asun- 
der, 1554:  break,  1730: 
conclude,  1737:  t5-broke, 
broken,  ruined,  pp.  1558. 

to-brode,  pp.  pulled  to 
pieces,  1008. 

to-bunej?,  3s.  beats  severely 
with  reeds  or  sticks,  see 
Note  1 166. 

to-busteJ>,  3s.  breaks, 
rends,  1610. 

to-chine,  inf.  burst  asun- 
der, 1565. 

to-draje,  pp.  drawn  asun- 
der, 1062  ;  t5-drowe, 
pt.  pi.  126. 

to-fore,  prep,  before,  74.6  ; 
to-uore,  1728,  1783. 

to-gadere,  adv.  together, 
807. 

tojte,  adj.  sb.  the  tough, 
tight,  703: — adj.  tohte, 
taut,  drawn,  see  Note 
1446. 


242 


^iossars 


to-henej?,    pi.    bring   low, 

injure  severely,  1 1 1 9. 
tolli,  inf.  entice,  1627:  see 

Note. 
tome,  adj.  tame,  1444. 
tone,     sb.     'vexation,      re- 
proach,   a.    50  ;    wrath, 

harm,  teone,  d.  J  458. 
tonge,  see  tunge. 
tonge,  sb.  pair  of  tongs,  n. 

156. 
top,sb.  top,  a.  13285  toppe, 

d.      1422  :  —  top-knots, 

heads,  dpi.  428. 
tort,  sb.  turd,  a.  1686. 
to-schakeS,    pi.    shake   to 

pieces,  1647. 
to-shene)?,     pi.     break    in 

pieces,  1120. 
to-slit,    pp.    slit   asunder, 

694. 
to-svolle,    pp.    swollen    to 

bursting     (with    anger), 

145. 
to-torue)>,    3s.    hurls  turf 

at,    1 1 66-,  to-torued,  pi. 

1119. 
to-tose,  inf.  pull  to  pieces, 

70  :  cf.  O.  E.  teoswian, 

tees  an. 
to-twichet,    pi.    twitch   to 

pieces,  1647. 
to-uore,  see  to-fore, 
to-ward,  prep,  toward,  to, 


553,  554, see  Note  1229: 
—  adj.  approaching,  at 
hand,  1254. 

trendli,  opt.  s.  roll,  trun- 
dle, 135. 

trev-schipe,  sb.  fidelity, 
truth,  a.  J  1344. 

triste,  is.  trust,  760. 

tr5,  sb.  tree,  d.  438,  trowe 
135  ;  treon,  npl.  1201  j 
tron,  npl.  1 1  3  3  ;  apl. 
615  (see  Note). 

truste,  opt.'  s.  let  trust, 
1273. 

tueie,  num.  two,  n.  795; 
tweire,  g.  888,  1396, 
twere,  see  Note  991. 

tuengst,  see  twengej>. 

tukest,  2S.  teasest,  pluck- 
est,  63. 

tune,  sb.  town,  farm-stead, 
d.   1169,  1753- 

tunge,  sb.  tongue,  d.  1071, 
1073;  a.  258  j  see  Note 
515  j  t5nge,  n.   37. 

turf,  sb.  turf,  d.   1167. 

turne,  inf.  turn,  820,  1365; 
is.  1598  ;  turned,  3s. 
1284,  turnj>  81 8  j  turnde, 
pt.  s.   1090. 

twam,  see  two. 

tweire,  twere,  see  tueie. 

twelue,  num.  twelve,  836. 

twengej>,  3  s.  presses  tightly, 


(Slogan? 


243 


nips,  1 1 14;    tuengst,  2s. 

156. 
two,    num.   two,   n.  1047: 

d.  twom  991  (see  Note), 

twam  1477. 
tydinge,  J,  see  Note  1035. 


J?ah,  conj.  though,  1235  etc. : 
nevertheless,  1779. 

fan,  adj.,  art.,  pron.,  see 
J»e,  for,  vor. 

J»an,  conj.  than,  22,  24,  74 
etc.;  >ane,  39,  486  etc. 

J>ane,  J?anne,  see  J?e. 

J?anne,  adv.  then,  525,  531, 
683,  700,  1 122,  see  Note 
1731. 

J?ar,  adv.  there,  25,  97, 
595  etc.  ;  bare  295,  859, 
913  (see  Note),  996  ;  ber 
1485  : — bar,  where,  16, 
26,  126  etc.,  see  Note 
981: — in  compounds, 
bar-after,  after  that,  there- 
after, 45  etc. :  bar-bl,  con- 
cerning that,  thereby,  98, 
244  :  ber-fore,  bare-uore, 
-uare,  on  that  account, 
because  of  that, 1160,  274, 
i327>  1354,  1658,  1236: 
bar-from,  therefrom,  137: 
bar-in,  -inne,  therein, 
95,  621  :  bar-mid,  -mide, 


therewith ,  81,  156, 
1367,  13705  thereby, 
through  that,  834:  bar- 
of,  ber-of,  thereof,  of  that, 
120,  190,  1247,  1305 
etc.;  therefrom,  13025 
thereat,  228:  bar-on, 
-one,  therein,  104,  1240: 
bar-ouer,  thereover,  1 1 3  6 : 
bar-to,  thereto,  to  that, 
103,  114  etc.  5  in  addi- 
tion, 1009  ;  thereupon, 
1 1  3  5  :  bar-burh,  because 
of  that,  1558. 

J»are,  see  )>e. 

J?arf,  3s.  need,  803;  baref, 
see  Note  190. 

J>as,  see  J?e. 

)>at,  conj.  that,  21,23  etc« : 
so  that,  122,  207,  224, 
242  etc. :  until  that,  until, 

J  3  32  =  if,  599 :  >at  te, 
see  Note  1  512. 

J?at,  see  J>e. 

J»at,  rel.  pron.  M#/,  ou^o, 
which,  80,  86,  119,229, 
1082,  1569  etc. :  //£  <W/0, 
176,1072—4:  that  which, 
95,  159,  218,  236, 
648,  866  etc. :  those  who, 
251,  882  (horn)  etc.:  to 
which,  231;  to  whom, 
1524:  he  bat,  who,  1415; 
bat  he  301-2;  cp.  882. 


244  $ios#ari? 

J>e,  def.  art.  (all  cases,  s., 
pi.)  the,  13,  19,  si,  69, 
96  etc.;  ho,  af.  J  13  (see 
Note),  nf.  C  26  (see 
Note),  C  199 ;has,g.  3385 
heos,  g.  J  512;  hes,  g.  J 
141  o; hare,  gf.  28;df.  31, 
717  etc. ;  >an,  hon,  hen, 
dm.  125,  129,  245,  801, 
15 1 4 etc. 5  dn.  133,  135, 
J  732>  J  538  etc;  han, 
hane,  hanne,  am.  742, 
889,  249—50,  1602, 
1771,  i4o6etc. :  —  dem. 
adj.  that,  those,  han,  dm. 
359;  dpi.  389;  hane,  am. 
10975  hare,  df.  140,  529, 
1 71 8 j  hat,  nn. 5  etc.;  an. 
8,  119,  164  etc.;  hene, 
am.  1093:  —  dem.  pron. 
that,  that  one,  those,  he, 
n.  800;  han,  hon,  d.  200, 
679,  1436,  1578  etc.; 
dpi.  650,  1 762;  ^ane,  am. 
1346;  hare,  df.  1525-6, 
I549igP1-  i584i>at,  nn., 
mn.,  an.  82,  573,  1055 
etc.;  heo,  npl.  1305, 
1 67 1— 5;  has,  that  matter,  J 
gn.  1442,  see  fondl ;  hes, 
adv.  g.  because  of  that, 
882;  he,  inst.  with  com  p. 
by  that,  the,  19,  34  etc.; 
he,    (?)    inst.,    see    Note 


1624;  hi,  inst.  because  of 
that,  therefore,  860, 
1 548 :  see  for,  vor,  after. 

J?e,  see  ]>u. 

)>e,  conj.  or :  weher,  waher, 
hwaher  .  .  .  he,  824, 
1064,  1360—2,  1408. 

£e,  conj.  than,  564. 

"pe,  rel.   pron.    "who,   1346, 

1352,     1383,     1  3  8  6  ■• 

which,  1447,  161 4,  1675 

(see  Note). 
J>e},  conj.  though,  48  etc. 
}>en,  J?ene,  see  )>e. 
)>enche,     is     think,    485; 

opt.  s.    726;  hencheh,  pi. 

1 1 16,  1357}  hojte,  hohte, 

hujte,  pt.  s.  392,  1442,  31 

etc. ;  hottest,  pt.  2s.  157. 
J?ene,  adv.  than,  J  564. 
J?enne,  adv.  then,  see  Note 

1380: — thence,  1726. 
J>eo,  sb.  hip,  thigh,  a.  1496. 
}>eo,  pron.  rel.  nvho,  1324: 

see  ]>e. 
J?eo,  see  }>e. 
J?eode,   sb.   people,    nation, 

d.  1583;  dpi.  905. 
J»eonne,J  1380:  see  )>enne. 
}>eos,  see  }>es. 
Jjeostre,  adj.   dart,  1432  j 

hustre,  249. 
Jjeoues,    sb.    thieves,    npl. 

1372;  houes,  gpl.   1 1 56. 


tf5lo$#ari? 


245 


J>er,  see  J?ar. 

J?es,  dem.  adj.  this,  nm. 
259;  Hs,  dn.  1794;  a. 
1730-7  ;  Hsse,  d.  or  dpi. 
659>  75°,  1789,  etc.; 
J>eos,  bos,  nf.  1667,  1 707, 
41,  143  etc.;  af.  177; 
npl.  730,  1770;  apl.  139, 
1653:  —  dem.  pron.  Hs, 
an.  113,  392  etc.,  bis, 
1635. 

J?es,  see  J>e. 

j?ewes,  sb.  customs,  habits, 
apl.  1017. 

j>I,  see  J>in,  J?e. 

J>icke,  adj.  thick,  17,  580 
etc.:  —  adv.  430:  —  as 
sb.  thickly  grown  part, 
1626. 

)?ider,  adv.  thither,  719; 
Hder-ward,  143. 

)>ilke,  adj.  that  same,  that, 
1038. 

J>iri,  )>ine,  pron.  poss.  thy, 
thine,  319,  169  etc.;  H, 
(see  Note  37)  220,  498 
etc.;  Hre,  df.  429,  914, 
915  (see  Note),  1 1 1 6, 
1650—2,  1740. 

Jjinche,  inf.  seem,  346  ; 
Hnchest,  2s.  578  ; 
buncheb,  pi.  1472;  J>u}te, 
pt.  s.  21:  —  impers.  with 
pron.,  Hncb,  Hng,  bunch, 


Kincb,   Kingb,  Kinb,    3  s. 

541,      1694,      1649-51, 

1672,       1473,        1592; 

bincbe,  see?ns  to  thee,  46  ; 

bujte,   buhte,   pt.    s.    23, 

1661. 
J>ing,  sb.  thing,   matter,  n. 

229   etc.;    a.    583    etc.; 

apl.  771   etc.;  Hnge,  see 

Notes   434,    309,    1 318, 

15975  dpi.  485  etc.;  gpl. 

1214,  1772. 
J?ing,  1694,  see  Jnnche. 
}>ire,  see  }>In. 
J»is,  J?isse,  see  J>es. 
J?o,  adv.  then,  25,  117,  187: 

when,  105,  1653  etc. :  — 

conj.  when,  since,  1070. 
\o,  see  J?e. 
£03,  conj.  though,  304:  see 

J>e> 
J>0}t,  sb.   thought,   n.    492  : 

bojte,     bohte,      thinking, 

mind,  d.  391,  940. 
>0}te,  J>ohte,  see  J?enche. 
J»oleJ?,  3s.  endures,  777. 
J?on,  conj.  than,  505. 
J?6n,  see  J»e,  for,  vor. 
Jjonc,   sb.   thanks,    a.  461  : 

will,    thought,    J?onk,  a. 

490  ;  hire  bonkes,  g.  abs. 

willingly,  gladly,  70. 
J>onne,  adv.  M*»,  508,  688, 

694,  822  :  —  thence,  132. 


246 


<£loe#ar£ 


Jjornes,  sb.  thorns,  npl.  586: 
J>6rne  w5de,  d.  thorny 
plant,  444. 

Jjos,  see  J>es. 

)?oues,  see  J?eoues. 

Jrete,  sb.  threatening,  d.  5  8. 

pretest,  2s.  threatenest, 
83  :  —  >rete>,  attacks, 
presses  hard,  3s.  1609. 

Jjridde,  adj.  //foW,  325  :  as 
sb.  a.  1478. 

fringe,  opt.  s.  press,  796. 

J>riste,  adj.  bold,  171,  758. 

Jro^e,  sb.  space  of  time, 
turn,  a.  260,  1455  } 
Jrowe,  ap].  478. 

Jjrostle,  sb.  throstle,  n. 
1659. 

}>rote,  sb.  throat,  d.  24, 
329;  a.  558,  1033. 

J>rowe,  see  Jro^e. 

J?riische,  sb.  thrush,  n. 
1659.. 

J?u,  pron.  Mow,  33,  38  etc.} 
J>e,  a.  34,  51  etc. ;  a.  re- 
flex. 161  etc.;  d.  85, 
206  etc. 

Jm^te,  Jmhte,  J?iinche}j, 
Jmnch,  Jjuncjj,  J?iingJ?, 
J)iinj7,  see  J?inche. 

Jm^te,  see  ]?enche. 

Jmnne,  adv.  thinly,  1529. 

}>ur3,  prep,  throughout,  447: 
£y  means  of,  765 :  because 


of,  1 1 62:  )>urch,  }>urh, 
through,  because  of,  1401, 
1256  (see  Note),  1405: 
burh,  ^y  means  of,  1428, 
1 7 1 5 :  Jmrh,  because  of, 
823. 

Jmr3ut,  adv.  throughout, 
879,  880. 

Jms,  adv.  M«j,  758. 

}>Uster,  sb.  darkness,  a. 
_i98,  230,  232. 

Jmstre,  see  Note  178  j 
J?eostre. 

J?usternesse,  sb.  darkness, 
n.  369. 

J>Uuele,  sb.  bushes,  lo<w 
growth,  dpi.  278. 

U,  V  (vowel) 

ule,  sb.  onul,  n.  837,  vie 
26;  hule,  n.  41  etc.;  g. 
28  j  d.  31;  voc.  217  etc.  j 
a.  4  etc. ;  houle,  a.  1662, 
n.  1785. 

unblij»e,  adj.  unhappy, 
1585. 

un-clene,  adj.  unclean,  un- 
cleanly, 91,  233. 

vnder,  under,  prep,  under, 
86,  515  etc. 

under-^at,  pt.  s.  discov- 
ered, perceived,  10555 
under-jete,  pp.   168. 

under-stonde,  inf.  under- 


<$los#ari? 


247 


stand,  perceive,  1262, 
1497;  under-stond,  3  s. 
1463:  under-st5de,  had 
insight  into,  knew  well, 
opt.  pt.  s.  662:  under- 
stod,  accepted  as  correct, 
pt.  s.  951:  hire  under- 
stod,  had  her  wits  about 
her,  pt.  s.  see  Note  1297. 

under-wat,  pt.  s.  perceived, 
1091. 

un-fele,  adj.  unlovely,  not 
good,  1 3  8 1 ;  unuele,  1003. 

un-gode,  sb.  evil  person, 
d.  129  (see  Note),  245: 
un-god,  evil,  a.  1364. 

ungrete,  sb.  small  size,  a. 
752. 

vnhap,  sb.  misfortune,  n.  J 
1267. 

un-hwate,  sb.  misfortune, 
n.  1267  ;  un-wate,  d. 
1 148. 

un-ihoded,  pp.  not  or- 
dained, 1 1 78. 

unilike,  adj.  as  sb.  unlike, 
n.  806. 

unisele,  adj.  unhappy,  un- 
fortunate, 1004. 

uni-some,  adj.  at  variance, 
1522. 

linker,  pron.  dual  (see 
Note  151),  of  us  two, 
g.  151  ;  poss.  552,  993, 


1689,  1780-2-3;  hunke, 
d.  1733. 

un-lede,  adj.  wretched, 
accursed,  976,  1644. 

unlengj?e,  sb.  shortness,  a. 
752. 

unmej>e,  sb.  lack  of  moder- 
ation, d.  352;  see  Note 
1618. 

un-milde,  adj.  ungentle,  61, 
1254;  vnmylde,  J  1254. 

un-miirie,  adj.  not  pleasant, 
346. 

vnne,  is.  or  opt.  s.  grant,  ] 
1739:  see  an. 

un-neaj?e,  adv.  scarcely, 
with  difficulty,  1605. 

un-6rne,  adj.  plain,  feeble, 
incapable,  317,  1492. 

un-rede,  sb.  unwise  or  un- 
advisable  course  of  action, 
ill-counsel,  a.  1355  (see 
Note)  :  un-red,  unwise 
course  of  action,  n.  1464; 
un-rede,  d.  212:  ///  ad- 
vice, unrede,  d.   161. 

un-ri3t,  sb.  wrong,  injustice, 
n.  1488;  a.  1094,  165, 
1368,  vn-rijt  1054;  un- 
riht,  n.  1548. 

unriht-fulnesse,  sb.  un- 
lawfulness, n.  1742. 

un-ripe,  adj.  immature, 
320. 


248 


#los#ar£ 


un-sel)>e,  sb.    infelicity,   n. 

1263. 
un-sij?e,  sb.  evil  experience, 

d.   1 1 64. 
un-sode,  pp.  uncooked, 

1007. 
un-strengj>e,  sb.    lack   of 

strength,  a.  751. 
un-strong,  adj.  weak,  561. 
un-)>eu,  sb.  vice,  ill-habit, 

n.    1 94  ;   un-i'ewes,   apl. 

101S. 
unuele,  see  un-fele. 
un-wate,  see  un-hwate. 
vn-wi}t,  sb.   monster,   voc. 

33;  n.  905  un-wi^tis,  npl. 

218:  —  vnwiht,  adj.  mon- 
strous, J  339. 
un-wille,  adj.    unpleasing, 

422,  1535  :  see  Note  347. 
un-wreste,  adj.  evil,  1 170: 

weak,  not  of  avail,  178 

(see  Note):  — adv.  not  in 

a  lasting  way,  illy,  342. 
vn-wro3en,  pp.  discovered, 

revealed,  162;  un-wroje, 

848. 
un-wrj),  adj.  not  of  worth, 

339,  vnwrj),  J  770. 
vn-wryen,  pp.  J   162:  see 

vn-wro^en. 
up,  adv.    up,  96,  658   etc.; 

vp,    851,    1422:  — prep. 

upon,  15,  1625,  J  494. 


up-breide,  inf.  upbraid,  re- 
proach, 1 41 4. 

up-bro^te,  pt.  s.  brought 
forth,  200. 

uppon,  prep,  upon,  1636, 
1698;  upon,  494;  uppen, 
1683  ;  vppe,  J  1625  : 
upe  K>n,  against  that,  to 
prevent  that,  679  5  upe 
londe,  in  the  country, 

733- 
ure,  pron.    poss.    our,   118, 

420:   ours  (pred.),    958, 

650. 
lime,  inf.  run,  638;  iirneb, 

pi.    375  :   O.  E.    iernan, 
yrnan. 
us,  pron.  us,  dpi.  188,  418 

etc. ;  apl.   187,  201. 
ut,  adv.   out,    8,    121   etc.; 

vt,  5  3- 
ute  we,  opt.  pi.  let  us,  see 

Note   1779:    cp.    O.    E. 

wuton,  uton. 
ut-halue,  sb.   adv.   d.,    on 

the  outer  part:    see  Note 

1 10. 
ut-heste,  sb.  hue  and  cry, 

a.  1698,  utest,  1683. 
ut-lete,  sb.  'outlet;  a  place 

for   putting    out    to    sea. 

Ice\.  utldt,"  Sic.,  d.  1754. 

Cp.  O.  E.  ut-Utan. 
ut-schiite,  sb.  outshootings 


(£>lo0$an? 


249 


[beyond  the  bounds  of 
moral  lavS] ,  excesses, 
npl.  1468.  O.  E.  ut-scyte. 
iiuel,  adj.  evil,  ill,  105 15 
vuel,  769;  iiuele,  1376} 
vuele,  1 171,  1172  etc.: 
—  adv.  vuele,  in  evil 
manner,  badly,  63,  iiuele, 
1206. 

V-U  (cons.) 

uajt,  see  fi^te. 

vair,  see  fair. 

uale,  see  fele. 

uare,  see  fare. 

vare,  sb.  course,  faring,  n. 

J  296:  see  Note, 
uastre,  see  faste. 
uecche,  inf.  fetch,   obtain, 

1504. 
vel,  uel,  see  wel. 
uel,  see  felle. 
uele,  see  fele. 
venne,    sb.   fen,    d.    962, 

uenne,  832. 
ueole,  see  fele. 
uerde,  see  ferde. 
uere,  C  1306,  see  were, 
vich,  see  euch. 
vicst,  vi^te,  see  fi;te. 
uinde,  uint,  see  finde. 
uise,  see  wis. 
uisest,  see  wisi. 
ulLje,  sb.  flies,  dpi.  600. 


uo,  sb.  foe,  d.  403. 

uode,  see  fode. 

uolde,  sb.  fold,  d.  696  (see 
Note)  :  folds,  crevices, 
dpi.  602 :  —  manle  volde, 
in  manifold  ways,  72. 

vonde,  imp.  s.  attempt,  seek, 
1063 :   see  fondi. 

uonge,  inf.  seize,  1 1 3  5 :  har- 
t5  uonge,  seize  upon  them. 

uor,  adv.  far,  646,  653:  see 
feor. 

vor,  uor,  prep,  for,  because 
of,  19,  206,  276,  404, 
446  etc. :  see  for. 

vor,  conj.  because,  43,  178, 
202,  229,  238  etc.:  — 
for,  167,  343-349,  394, 
465  etc.:  vor  >at,  be- 
cause, 653;  vor  han  hat, 
because,  J  1661;  uor-ban, 
therefore,  1662;  vor-hon, 
because,  11055  vor-K,  on 
account  of  that,  65,  277, 
691,  721  etc.  :   see  for. 

uor-bisne,  sb. example,  par- 
able, n.  637;  a.  244,  98. 

uor-brede)?,  pi.  become 
transformed,  510. 

uor-crempej?,  pi.  twist  con- 
vulsively, 510. 

uore-ward,  see  fore-ward. 

uor-^ete,  opt.  s.  forget, 
725. 


250 


(SlostfarE 


uor-letej?,  see  for-leten. 
uor-lost,  see  for-leose. 
vorre,    adv.   afary  far  off, 

327. 
uor}?,  see  for}?. 
vor-J>I,  see  vor. 
uote,  sb.  foot,  d.  or  dpi.  51. 
uox,  see  fox. 
vram,   vrom,   urom,    see 

from. 
ur6J»e,  J  972,  see  wroJ?e. 
vul,  see  ful. 
vyrste,  see  Note  121. 

W 

wa,  see  hwo. 

wai,  interj.  woel alas!  120: 
—  waila-wai  !  well- 
away,  220. 

wai,  see  wei. 

wake,  sb.  waking,  watch- 
ing, a.  1590. 

walde,  see  wolde. 

walle,  sb.  avails,  apl.  767: 
see  Note. 

wan,  see  hwat. 

wan,  see  wanne. 

wanene,  adv.  wh  en  c e, 
1  300. 

wanne,  adv.  when,  430 
etc.  5  wane,  420,  45 1  etc. ; 
wan,  459,  591  etc. ;  won, 
324;  wone,  327,  687 
etc.  5  wonne,  38. 


wanst,  see  wene. 

war,  adv.  where,  526  etc.; 
ware,  892,  1049;  warto, 
for  what  purpose,  464. 

war,  adj.  cautious,  170, 
192  ;  wear,  1638  5  ware 
J  215  (see  Note),  488, 
860. 

ware,  see  wa)>er:  Note 
151. 

ware-uore,  conj.  where- 
fore, why,  267,  268,  715 
etc. ;  war-uore,  C  1 6 1 8. 

warm,  adj.  warm,  622:  — 
as  sb.  warme,  d.  538. 

warm,  is.  warn,  330,  739, 
925. 

warp,  see  worpe. 

was,  pt.  s.  was,  1,  5  etc. 

waste,  adj.  waste,  solitary, 
17:   O.  Fr.  waste. 

wat,  see  hwat, 

wat,  see  wite. 

waj?er,  see  hwa)?er. 

we,  pron.  we,  177,  179 
etc. 

wear,  see  war. 

wede,  sb.  weeds,  dpi.  937  : 
see  wode. 

we^e,  inf.  bear,  C  1022. 

wei,  sb.  whey,  a.  1009. 

wei,  sb.  way,  path,  n. 
956  ;  a.  308  etc.,  wai 
249,      1602  ;     weie,     d. 


0los#an? 


251 


214,  820  etc. :  —  manner, 
weie,  d.  1428. 

wel,  adv.  (see  Note  153), 
well,  'very,  31,  36,  44 
etc.  :  <very,  uel  537  : 
well,  vel  95  :  quite,  wel 
216  :  indeed,  gladly, 
wel  201. 

wel,  sb.  well,  spring,  n. 
917. 

welcume,  adj.  welcome, 
1600. 

wenden,  inf.  turn,  1326; 
wend,  3s.  1464;  i-wend, 
pp.  1 5 1 9 :  turn,  go,  wende, 
is.  288  ;  opt.  s.  864. 

wene,  inf.  suppose,  ween, 
1266,  1501  ;  is.  237, 
1694  etc.  ;  wenest,  2s. 
259  etc.,  wenist  315, 
wenestu  303  etc.,  wenst, 
J  589,  wanst  1644,  west 
47  5  ueneS,  3  s.  1554, 
wened  901  ;  wenej>,  pi. 
844. 

weolcne,  sb.  sky,  clouds, 
dpi.  1682. 

weole,  sb.  weal,  abund- 
ance, d.  1273. 

wepen,  inf.  weep,  987  ; 
opt.  pi.  931  ;  wepe,  is. 
876,  1567  ;  opt.  s.  226  j 
opt.  pi.  861  j  wepej>,  pi. 
885. 


wepmon,  sb.  man,  d.  1379. 
wepne,   sb.  weapons,   npl. 

1369. 
were,  sb.  man,  husband,  n. 

1522-3  }  a.  1341. 
were,  pt.  2s.  were,  1059  } 

pt.  pi.    16  etc.  j  opt.  pi. 

s.  1  310  etc.;  weren,  opt. 

pt.    pi.    76,    976  ;     uere, 

pt.  pi.  C  1306. 
were)?,  3  s.  protects,  guards, 

834:   —  wear,    werie>, 

pi.  1 1 74. 
werne,   inf.  with  g.,  deny, 

withhold,    1358  :  —  wer- 

nen,  see  Note  614. 
wes,  see  Note  748. 
west,      adv.      westwards, 

923. 
west,  3s.  waxes,  increases, 

C  689  (O.  E.  weaxep). 
west,  see  wene. 
weste,  adj.  desolate,  1528  : 

—  as  sb.    waste,   desert, 

n.  1000. 
wej»er,  see  hwaj?er. 
wej?er,  conj.  whether,  824, 

1  360. 
whar,  adv.  where,  64. 
what,  see  hwat. 
whi,  wi,  see  hwi. 
whonene,     adv.     whence, 

138. 
wicchecrefte,    sb.    witch- 


252 


^lostfarp 


craft,  d.  1  301  ;  wiecche- 
crafte,  a.  1308. 

wicke-tunes,  sb.  {ecclesi- 
astical) abodes ,  npl.  730. 

wide,  adv.  wide,  far,  288, 
300  etc. 

wider,  adv.  whither,   724. 

wif,  sb.  wife,  woman,  n. 
11 59,  1 193  etc.  ;  wiue, 
d.  1077  etc.  ;  wif,  dpi. 
13345  wiues,  g.  1468  ; 
npl.  1562 

wi3t,  sb.  wight,  creature, 
n.  434  etc.  ;  voc.  556  ; 
wijte,  npl.  87,  204;  gpl. 
535,  628  ;  vvijtes,  npl. 
431  j  apl.  598  ;  wiht,  n. 
1642  :  no-wiht,  not  at 
all,  928  etc. 

wike,  sb.  dwellings,  apl. 
604. 

wike,  sb.  offices,  services, 
npl.  605  ;  apl.  603  5  gpl. 
S05. 

wilde,  adj.  wild,  125,  496, 
946  etc. 

wildernisse,  sb.  wilder- 
ness, n.  1000. 

wile,  sb.  space  of  time,  a. 
1 99,  1020,  1 141  etc.  j 
d.  1458  .-  adv.  d.  whilom, 
202;  so  wile,  as  formerly, 
1 01 6  ;  sum  wile,  at  one 
time,  or  at  some  times,  6. 


wile,  3s.  wills,  intends, 
214,  408  ;  opt.  s.  185, 
1360  ;  wille,  is.  262 
etc.  ;  opt.  s.  77  etc.  ; 
opt.  pi.  306  ;  wilt,  2S. 
165,  wiltu  640. 

wille,  sb.  will,  pleasure,  a. 
1256  ;  a  wille,  d.  pleas- 
ingly, 1722. 

wimmon,  see  wummon. 

win,  sb.  wine,  a.  ion. 

winne,  sb.  conflict,  trouble, 
d.  670. 

winter,  sb.  winter,  d.  412, 
474,  622,  wintere  415, 
533  5   winteres,  g.  458. 

wippen,  inf.  dangle,  bob 
about,  1066  :  cp.  Du.. 
L.  G.,  G.  wippen,  Sw. 
<vippa,  Dan.  vippe. 

wirche,  see  wurchen. 

wis,  wise,  adj.  wise,  192, 
107 1  etc.  5  uise,  961  : 
comp.  wisure,  1250, 
1330:  —  as  sb.  wise,  n. 
1765   d.  225. 

wise,  sb.  wise,  manner,  d. 
893  etc.;  d.  a.  1703 
(see  Note  54);  a.  519 
(see  Notes  54,  748) ; 
gpl.  20,  1663  (see  Note 
54)  ;  wes,  see  Note  748  j 
wse,  see  Notes  34,  54. 

wisi,  inf.  shove,  direct,  915; 


253 


wisse,  is.  927;  ulsest,  2s. 

973- 

wiste,  see  wite. 

wit,  see  wi]?. 

wit,  sb.  wit,  intellect,  n. 
681,  689  etc.;  a.  693, 
695>  759  etc.;  witte,  d. 
783,  1243. 

wite,  inf.  know,  1139, 
1 28 1,  13  19  etc.;  opt.  s. 
1467,  wte,  C  440  (see 
Note  3  4) ;  vvitest,  2s.  1 045  ; 
wat,  is.  1 1 79  etc.,  wat 
61  etc.,  wod  1049  etc.; 
wot,  3s.  236  etc.;  wost, 
2s.  1407,  wostu,  95  etc.; 
wiste,  pt.  s.  160  etc. ;  opt. 
pt.  pi.  116;  waste,  pt. 
pi.  10  :  wot  in-si}t  in, 
has  knowledge  of,  is  well 
acquainted  with,  195. 

wite,  (with  a.  of  thing,  d. 
of  person)  inf.  reproach, 
blamey  1248-9;  opt.  s., 
wite,  J  440;  hwitestu,  2s. 
1356. 

wi]?,  prep,  (see  Notes  800, 
1680)  against,  403,  800 
etc., wit  56,57  etc. :  with, 
against,  1087,  1145,  wift 
1608,  1 642  etc.,  wit  in: 
against,  from,  610: 
toward,  62  :  with,  to- 
ward, wift   1775:  with, 


wi}>  1 41 9,  1553-6,  wit 
292. 

wij»-iite,  prep,  without, 
1430;  wit-ute,  183,  264 
etc. :  —  adv.  without, 
outside,  wi>-ute  646, 
673,  wift-Kite  1594. 

witi,  adj.  wise,  knowing, 
1189. 

witles,  adj.  without  intel- 
ligence, 6yz. 

wiue,  see  wlf. 

wlate,  sb.  disgust,  d.  1506. 

wlatie,  inf.  become  dis- 
gusted, nauseate,  354. 

wl,  adv.  badly,  evilly,  3 1 : 
—  adj.  see  Note  236; 
foul,  wle  35:  —  see    ful. 

wle,  see  wl,  wiile  :  Notes 
8,  34. 

wlite,  sb.  beauty,  appear- 
ance, d.  439. 

wllej?,  see  wiile  :  Note  34. 

wlonc,  adj.  proud,  insolent, 
489. 

wlonk-hede,  sb.  insolence: 
see  Note  1400. 

wit,  see  wiile  :   Note  34. 

wnder,  wndre,  see  wun- 
der  :  Note  34. 

wndri,  is.  wonder,  228: 
see  Note  34. 

wnest,  see  wunest  :  Note 
34- 


254 


€>lo00arp 


wnienge,  sb.   dwelling,  g. 

614  (see  Note  34)5  wo- 

ning,  a.   1760. 
wnne,  J  1100,  see  wiinne. 
wo,  see  hwo. 
wo,  sb.  woe,  misery,  n.  882, 

892. 
wod,  see  wite. 
wod,  wode,  adj.  mad,  furi- 
ous,    1041,     512     etc.  j 

wude  1029. 
wode,  sb.  wood,  d.  76. 
wode,  sb.   weed,  plant,  d. 

320;  dpi.  587,  593:  see 

wede. 
wode,  see  wude. 
w63e,  adj.  crooked,  apl.  815. 
wo^e,    sb.  wrong,  a.    164, 

198. 
wola-wo,  interj.  as  sb.  wel- 

laway !  412. 
wolcume]?,    3s.    welcomes, 

440. 
wolde,  pt.  s.  would,  4255 

'would  wish,  opt.  pt.    s. 

70  etc.  5  opt.  pt.  pi.  1024; 

woldest,     pt.     2S.     didst 

wish,       1050;       walde, 

wished,  pt.  s.  1710  ;  opt. 

pt.     s.     1727  ;     desire st, 

woldest,    pt.    2S.    84  :  — 

wolde,  would,  opt.  pt.  s. 

1692  j      opt.      pt.       pi. 

1678. 


wolde,  sb.  wold,  wood,  d. 

1724. 
wole,   adj.  foul,    evil,    see 

Note  8. 
won,  wone,  see  wanne. 
wSnie,    inf.    wail,    weep, 

975  5    wonest,    2s.    985, 

see  Note  81. 
woning,  sb.   lamenting,   n. 

311  (see  Note)}  woninge, 

d.  870. 
woning,  see  wnienge. 
wonne,  see  wanne. 
wop,sb.  lamentation,  n.  878, 

986  j  wope,  d.  857,  865. 
word,    sb.    word,    speech, 

n.  233  etc.  ;  a.  45  etc.  ; 

d.  468  (see   Note)  ;  apl. 

139  etc.  }  worde,  n.   see 

Note  1270 ;  d.  192  etc.  ; 

dpi.     180    etc.  ;    wordes, 

npl.  841  ;  apl.  756,  839, 

954- 

worlde,  sb.  world,  g.  476, 
worldes  1280. 

wormes,  sb.  worms,  rep- 
tiles, apl.  601. 

worpe,  inf.  throw,  cast, 
768  ;  worp,  imp.  s.  121 ; 
worpeb,  pi.  596;  warp, 
pt.  s.  125  : — utter  vehe- 
mently, warp,  pt.  s.  45. 

worre,  sb.  war,  d.  385. 

worse,  worste,  see  wiirs. 


45los#ar£ 


255 


worj7,  3s.  becomes,  405. 

wost,  w5t,  see  wite. 

wowe,  sb.  woe,  d.  414. 

wowes,  sb.  avails,  apl. 
1528. 

wra^te,  see  wurchen. 

wrake,  sb.  persecution, 
misery,  n.  1 194. 

wranne,  sb.  wren,  n.  564, 
1 71 7  etc.  ;  voc.   1740. 

wraslinge,  sb.  wrestling, 
d.  795. 

wraj>}>e,  sb.  wrath,  n. 
941-45  ;  d.  954. 

wrchen,  wrche,  see  wiir- 
chen  :  Note  34. 

wre,  J  203  :  see  Note  34. 

wrecche,  sb.  wretched 
creature,  n.  534,  13145 
voc.  1302,  wrecch  1377, 
wreche  1669,  1696:  — 
adj.  wrecche,  wretched, 
miserable,  335,  556, 
1 316,  1622  etc. ;  wreche 
1688. 

wrechede,  sb.  misery, 
wretchedness,  n.  1219, 
1251. 

wrench,  sb.  guile,  trickery, 
a.  811,  831  ;  wrenche, 
d.  247  etc.  5  gpl.  813  j 
wrenches,  apl.  798. 

writ,  3s.  writes,  1756  ; 
wrot,  pt.  s.  235. 


writelinge,  trilling,  sing- 
ing with  elaborate  varia- 
tions, d.  48,  914. 

wronc-hede,  sb.  see  Note 
1400. 

wrong,  sb.  wrong,  n.  877  : 

—  adv.  wronge,  196, 
1362. 

wrot,  see  writ. 

wroj?,  wr55,  wroJ?e,  adj. 
wroth,  in,  1608,  1 1 45 
etc.,  see  Note  121 8:  — 
as    sb.    wrobe,    n.    944  : 

—  adv.  wrobe,  angrily, 
cruelly,  badly,  63,  415, 
972  etc.;  ill,  1529. 

wrs,    wrse,   wrste,    see 

wiirs  :  Note  34. 
wr}>,  wrjje,  seewur)? :  Note 

34- 

wrj»-sipe,  see  wurf- 
schipe  :  Note  34. 

wse,  see  wise  :  Note  34. 

wte,  see  wite  :  Note  34. 

vru,  adv.  how,  846. 

wiicche,  see  Note  1319. 

wude,  sb.  wood,  forest,  d. 
615,  1626,  wode  444; 
wode,  gpl.  387. 

wude,  see  wod. 

wude-wale,  sb.  wood- 
hatch,  wood-pecker,  n. 
1659. 

wiile,     is.   will,    intend, 


256 


^lostfarp 


1467  etc.;   3s.  630  etc.; 

opt.   s.    1362  etc.;    wle, 

3s.  406;  wiille,    is.    903 

etc.  ;     opt.     pi.      1730  ; 

wulle>,   pi.     1257,   wlle> 

896;  wiilt,  2s.  1064  etc., 

wiiltu      1669     etc.,     wit 

499. 
wulues,  sb.    wolves,   npl. 

1008. 
wummon,    sb.  woman,   n. 

i359>I387etc.;d.  1524; 

npl.  1350;  wumman,  a. 

141 3  ;       wimmane,      d. 

1 379 ;  wimmon,  wimmen, 

np1-   1357,  1355- 
wunder,    sb.    wonder,    n. 

361  etc.,  wundere  1473; 

wnder,    gpl.     852,    see 

Note  34. 
wune,  sb.  custom,  practice, 

n.  272. 
wunest,   2s.   dwellest,   re- 

mainest,  338,  wnest    589 

(see    Note);    wunej?    3s. 

1752. 
wiinne,  sb.  joy,  pleasure,  a. 

1 100. 
wiinne)?,  ^.strives,]  1403. 
wiirchen,     inf.     make, 

wrchen  408;  wrajte,   pt. 

s.    106 ;    inf    wirche, 

J  wrche  compose,  722. 
wtirs,   comp.    adj.    worse, 


wrs,     34  j    worse,    303: 

sup.  as  sb.  worste,  a.  10; 

wrste,     d.     121:  —  adv. 

wiirs    793;  wurse   1408, 

1 41 6;  worse  505. 
wurschipe,    see     wurj?- 

schipe. 
wurjj,  adj.   worthy,  honor- 
able, estimable,  769;  wrb 

340,   572;  wurj>,  worth, 

1550. 
w[u]rj)e,    inf.    be,    become, 

846;  opt.  pt.  s.  400  etc.; 

wurjje,     opt.     s.     1382; 

wurj>,     3  s.     (fut.     sense) 

1 158,  548;  wr>,  3s.  770, 

wor>  405. 
wur)?ful,     adj.     honorable, 

1481. 
wurjj  -  schipe,    sb.    honor, 

a.  1344;   wur-schipe,  n. 

1288  ;    wr)>-sipe  1099. 
wiiste,  see  wite. 

jaf,  see  ^iue. 
jal,  see  ^olle. 
3are,   ^arre,  ^arewe,    adj. 

ready,    see    Notes    215, 

1221. 
3aure,  adv.   clearly,  fully, 

altogether,  certainly  :  see 

Note  1 177. 
3S,  pron.  ye,  116  etc. 


45los#ar£ 


257 


$ef,  jefe,  see  }iue. 
jef,  see  ^if. 

^elpst,  2S.  boastest,  yelpest, 

971;  3  ei 1 p  es  t     1641 ; 

jeolpest     1299  i     jiilpest 

1650,  1652. 
3eme,  sb.  care,  heed,  a.  649, 

727,  1469. 
3ene,  inf.   ans-iver,   inform, 

shoiv,  845;   is.  893. 
^eolpest,  see  jelpst. 
3eorne,  adv.  eagerly,   anx- 
iously, 1352,  1 58 1 ;  jdrne 

538,  661. 
}eorneJ>,  3  s.  yearns,  longs, 

C  1403. 
38 p,  adj.    cunning,   465, 

829. 
jep-hede,  sb.    cunning,   n. 

683. 
3er,   sb.  j'<?#r,   d.   101  ;    a. 

790,  1259:  a-jere,  in  the 
year,   at  the  appropriate 
yearly  season,  1 1  3  3. 
3erd,    sb.    rod,    whip,    a. 

Ill- 
3et,  adv.  yet,  still,  545,  786 
etc.,  3<§te  747,  jette 
1307  :  —  moreover,  be- 
sides, ^et  299,  309,  505, 
597  etc.: — in  spite  of 
that,  still,  808:  —  \>l 
jet,  yet,  still,  see  Note 
1624. 


3eJ>,  see  gan. 

3eueJ»,  see  3iue. 

jif,  3ef,  conj.  if,  347,  11 80, 

1181,51,  56  etc.}  3if  J?at, 
%  if  that,  if,  693. 
3iue,  inf.  give,    1692  etc.; 

is.  1686;  jefe,  inf.  1 7 1  o ; 

jiueh,    pi.      1773,    3eueJ> 

1776;  jaf,  pt.  s.  55,  149, 

1 1 01,    $ef    1 176;    i-jiue, 

pp.  551. 
3oeJ?e,  sb.  youth,  d.    633  ; 

J  youh)?e  :  O.  M.  gugo% 

W.  S.  geoguft. 
303elinge,   sb.  guggling 

noise  (Sk.),  d.  40. 
3olle,  inf.  yell,  cry  out,  972, 

987  ;  jollen,   977,   989  5 

jollest,      2s.     223,     joist 

985;  jal,  pt.  s.  112. 
36mere,   adv.    sadly,    pite- 

ously,  415. 
3ond,  dem.  with  he,  the  one 

yonder,  119  :  cf.  Sievers, 

338,  n.  6. 
3ongling,  sb.  young  child, 

n.  635. 
jonie,  opt.  s.  yanvn,  292. 
35rne,  see  3eorne. 
35t,  conj.  yet,  1  697. 
3ulinge,sb.j<?//z'«§-,d.  1643. 
^iilpest,  see  3elpst. 
3unge,    adj.  young,    11 34, 

1434. 


258 


<0los#an? 


junling,  sb.  young  child,  n. 

_  1433;  junglinge,d.  1447. 

3iit,    adv.  yet,     still,    686, 

1 1 43:—  conj.  yet,    363, 

679  etc. 


ydel,  adj.  useless,  917, 


yeonde,   dem.  J   119:  see 

}6nd. 
ylaS,  adj.   hateful,  loathly. 

see  Note  1607. 
ysome,  adj .  peaceable,  180: 

see  Note. 
y-wiiste,    pt.     pi.    knew, 

knew  of,  J  10. 


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